Gophers men's basketball team celebrates Senior Day three points at a time

In a season defined by close losses and missed opportunities, Richard Pitino and his Gophers basketball team needed a feel-good moment to end the regular season.

They got just that Sunday. Gabe Kalscheur had eight of the Gophers' school-record 18 three-pointers on Senior Day in a 107-75 victory against last-place Nebraska in front of an announced 9,984 at Williams Arena.

Kalscheur finished with a game-high 26 points on 8-for-11 shooting from three-point range; he was 7-for-8 in the second half. The 6-4 sophomore from DeLaSalle tied the single-game school record for threes held by Blake Hoffarber (2009) and Malik Smith (2014).

"I just let it fly," Kalscheur said. "I just felt free playing for not just me but for the seniors to end the right way. So, it was great to see them to come out and have a great win to end their season."

The Gophers (14-16, 8-12 Big Ten), who broke the program record of 16 threes in a game set in 2001, picked up some much-needed momentum going into the Big Ten tournament, which for them starts at 5 p.m. Wednesday vs. Northwestern in Indianapolis.

Big Ten men's basketball bracket

Seniors Michael Hurt, Alihan Demir and Brady Rudrud were honored before and after the game with friends and family in attendance for their final game at the Barn. They all had a chance to celebrate by contributing to a big victory.

Demir, who had a season-best 19 points and 10 rebounds, made the biggest impact of the seniors while scoring in double figures for the first time since Jan. 12.

"Happy for the seniors, Alihan, Mike and Brady," Pitino said. "They've given so much to this program. Mike and Brady obviously for four years. And Alihan even just being able to jump up the level he did. That's really hard to do. Not to mention not being from here. Happy that he played great."

Hurt, a Rochester native, got his first start since his sophomore year. After the Cornhuskers (7-24, 2-18) — who have lost 16 in a row in coach Fred Hoiberg's fist season — took a 6-0 lead to open the game, he had five of his team's first eight points, including its first three-pointer.

Rudrud, an Eden Prairie native, was awarded a scholarship this season after spending his first three years as a walk-on. So you can imagine the crowd's response when he drilled the 17th three of the game with 3:56 to play to break the school record. He also assisted on the basket that put the Gophers over the 100-point mark.

Freshman Bryan Greenlee hit three-pointer No. 18 with under two minutes to go.

With three straight home losses before Sunday, Pitino faced heavy criticism from fans questioning his future with the program, but there was just as much uncertainty about the team's star.

Sophomore center Daniel Oturu, who appears likely to leave early for the NBA, finished possibly his last game at the Barn with 10 points and six rebounds in 23 minutes.

Oturu ignited a 14-2 run in the first half with six straight points, but he was scoreless in just nine minutes in the second half. The story of the game would be three-point shooting and a spark from seniors.

Opening the second half, Demir scored Minnesota's first three baskets while playing as confident and aggressive in the post as he has all season. That freed up Kalscheur for the first of his seven second-half threes, including his record-tying eighth to make it 92-62 with 6 ½ minutes to play. Demir then scored on the ensuing possession before he left the game to a standing ovation.

Demir transferred from Drexel last summer to get an opportunity to help lead a high-major program into the NCAA tournament in his last year.

That won't come to fruition unless the Gophers win their first Big Ten tournament title.

"We're trying to get a little momentum going and we really got it," Demir said. "We just got to keep it going in Indianapolis. Steal some over there and see what happens."