For just another game, it sure looked like a significant victory for Minnesota. Blake Hoffarber scored 20 points, Ralph Sampson III and Trevor Mbakwe created havoc all over the court and the Golden Gophers beat No. 8 North Carolina 72-67 on Friday night in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off tournament. "We had to come ready to play," Mbakwe said. "All the guys were ready, focused. We knew this was a big game for the program." The Gophers (4-0) mobbed each other in front of the bench and danced around in a circle to celebrate the win -- and their trip to Sunday's final against West Virginia. Coach Tubby Smith had called North Carolina just "another game," but it sure looked like more while Hoffarber was silencing the pro-Tar Heels crowd with 3s. When the early upset was over, it looked as if Smith might have his best team yet in four seasons in Minnesota. "I liked our courage, I liked our toughness," Smith said. Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=303230135
