Hollins scores career-best 32 to lead Minnesota past Southern Miss 81-73 in NIT quarterfinals
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Austin Hollins scored a career-high 32 points to lead Minnesota to an 81-73 win Tuesday night over Southern Mississippi and a spot in the NIT semifinals.
Hollins, playing in his school-record 139th game, scored 12 straight points in a span of 1:42 to erase an eight-point first-half deficit. He made all 10 of his foul shots, including six straight in the final 48.1 to hold off the Golden Eagles, who had closed to within 78-73.
Joey King scored 15 and Maurice Walker added 12 for Minnesota (23-13), which is in the NIT semifinals for the second time in three years and seventh overall.
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The Golden Gophers play Florida State or Louisiana Tech Tuesday at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Southern Mississippi (29-7), who was led by Neil Watson's 16 points, lost in the NIT quarterfinals for the second straight year.
USM tied a school record with 29 victories.