Indianapolis, IN -- (Sports Network) - Lawrence Westbrook had 17 points, as Minnesota overcame a double-digit deficit to top Northwestern, 55-52, in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament.

Dan Coleman scored 16 and had three steals, while Lawrence McKenzie had 13 for the Gophers (19-12). Minnesota advanced to play third-seeded Indiana in Friday's quarterfinals.

Gophers senior center Spencer Tollackson left after just six minutes, and did not play in the second half.

Craig Moore had 15 points, while Michael Thompson and Kevin Coble each chipped in 13 for Northwestern (8-22), whose season ends on a four-game losing streak. The Wildcats have lost 11 of their last 12 games.

Northwestern held a 13-point edge at halftime, but saw it wiped out by the Gophers shortly into the second half. Minnesota used a 12-3 run to get back in the game, and Al Nolen ended it with a pair of free throws.

Coming with 16:39 left in the game, Nolen's pair brought the Gophers within 37-33. Almost four minutes later, Minnesota completed the comeback and tied the game. Westbrook made a pair of his own free throws, and a three, back-to- back, knotting the score at 42-42.

The game took on a laborious scoring pace, but remained close, down the stretch. With 2:36 left, Moore's three-pointer put the Wildcats in front, 52-51.

One minute later, Coleman countered with a layup on a fastbreak, pushing the Gophers ahead by a point. The teams missed several scoring chances at that point -- Coble missed a free throw, and McKenzie was off the mark on a three.

With under a minute left, Westbrook missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Northwestern got the ball. But the Wildcats turned it over, and had to foul. Coleman went to the line, and made a pair with less than five seconds left, giving the Gophers a 55-52 edge.

Northwestern got the jump, and took a 12-5 lead on a Coble three a little more than five minutes into the game. The Wildcats then expanded their lead with a nine-point run, fueled by four Coble points, and capped by a three by Moore.

That shot put Northwestern ahead 21-9 with 9:38 remaining in the half, and the margin lasted until halftime, when the Wildcats held a 34-21 lead.