MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -Senior Jamal Abu-Shamala scored nine of his season-high 20 points during a 14-1 run to start the game and Minnesota never trailed in a 90-76 victory over North Dakota State on Saturday.
Lawrence Westbrook returned from a one-game absence due to an injured right shin to score 17 points for Minnesota. Ralph Sampson III had a season-high 12 points and Damian Johnson added 11.
Minnesota (6-0) is off to its best start since racing out to the same record during the 1999-2000 season.
Bison senior Mike Nelson paced North Dakota State (2-2) with a season-high 22 points. Ben Woodside and Brett Winkelman each added 16.
The only other time Abu-Shamala had at least 20 points was when he scored a career-high 27 against Michigan in 2007.
Minnesota improved to 24-1 all time against North Dakota State, with the Gophers' only loss to the Bison coming in 1936.
