COL BKB: Minnesota 70, North Dakota St. 57

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MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Rodney Williams Jr. scored 19 points and Trevor Mbakwe added 14 plus 18 rebounds in No. 16 Minnesota's 70-57 win over North Dakota State Tuesday.

Mbakwe came off the bench to hit 5-of-6 shots from the floor and 4-of-6 from the free throw line for the Gophers (11-1), who won their seventh consecutive game.

Andre Hollins scored 11 for Minnesota and was 3-of-6 from 3-point range.

Lawrence Alexander led North Dakota State (8-3) with 19 points and six assists. Taylor Braun added 15 and Marshall Bjorklund scored 12, but the Bison could not extend their three-game winning streak.

Minnesota carved out a 37-26 lead in the first half and played the visitors virtually even in the second half. North Dakota State hit a scoreless dry spell that lasted about 4 minutes early in the half that allowed Minnesota to build a 51-32 advantage.