Your Saint Joe’s Hawks were tied out at Minnesota until about eight minutes remained in the first half. But then the host Gophers got hot from the arc between then and halftime, by which time Saint Joe’s was down by 15. Things didn’t get much better in the second half, and it went down as a 97-74 loss. The Hawks have now lot six straight after starting the season with three wins.

Minnesota (7-3) made 53.4 percent of its shots, including 9-for-20 from the arc. Saint Joe’s, meanwhile, connected on just 41.7 percent and turned it over 16 times. Blake Hoffarber led led Minnesota with 20 points and was 5-for-9 from distance. And Ralph Sampson III — the son of just the Ralph Sampson you’re thinking of — had 16 points, 10 boards and three blocks. The Gophers did open the season ranked No. 18 in the country, and they do have a win over Butler, which was ranked No. 10 at the time and which beat Ohio State today.

Saint Joe’s has now been outrebounded eight times in its nine games. Afterward, according to SJU’s web site, Hawks coach Phil Martelli expressed some frustration, saying the Hawks “didn’t put up much of a fight.” Martelli also candidly pointed a finger at himself for some of Saint Joe’s defensive woes of late:

“But it’s now nine of our last 14 halves that the opponents have gotten 40 points or more. So I have to look at my teaching and the combinations that I’m putting out there.”

The Hawks (3-6) are off until next Sunday, when they host Lehigh at the Hagan.

Link: Minnesota 97, Saint Joe’s 74 [Saint Joseph's University]