NIT ROUNDUP : Minnesota’s Defense Eliminates Oklahoma

Voshon Leonard scored 17 points and Minnesota held Oklahoma to 31.3% shooting as the Gophers advanced to the National Invitation Tournament quarterfinals with an 86-72 victory at Minneapolis on Monday night.

Minnesota Coach Clem Haskins, upset when the Gophers (19-10) didn’t make the NCAA tournament, said his team is playing defense as well as anyone in the nation after holding Oklahoma (20-12) to its lowest field-goal percentage in team postseason history.

“This club has come of age,” Haskins said. “That’s why I pushed and fought (to get into the NCAA tournament).”

OTHER GAMES

Johnny Murdock scored two key three-pointers to lead Southwest Missouri State (20-10) to a 70-52 victory over Jackson State (25-9) at Jackson, Miss. . . . Scott Belyeu made two free throws with 20 seconds left to lead Miami of Ohio (22-8) over Old Dominion, 60-58, at Oxford, Ohio. Keith Jackson led Old Dominion (21-9) with 11 points. . . . Bill Curley’s inside play led Boston College (18-12) to a 101-68 victory over Rice (18-10) at Boston. . . . Robert Shannon scored 19 points to help Alabama Birmingham (19-13) to a 65-64 victory over Clemson (17-13) at Birmingham, Ala.