Minnesota Ends 20-Year Skid at Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) -- Gary Russell ran for 188 yards and three touchdowns, and Laurence Maroney moved into second place on Minnesota&#39;s career rushing list as the Golden Gophers overpowered Indiana 42-21 Saturday.<br> <br> Minnesota (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten) snapped a two-game losing streak and ended a 20-year drought in Bloomington. The Gophers had lost seven straight here since 1985.<br> <br> But Indiana&#39;s fourth straight loss may prove the most costly. The Hoosiers (4-5, 1-5) needed two wins in their last three games to become bowl eligible for the first time since 1994 and now must visit No. 22 Michigan, where they haven&#39;t won since 1967, and host Purdue, which they&#39;ve beaten once since 1996.<br> <br> Indiana appeared in control after a goal-line stop as time expired in the first half, taking 14-7 lead into the break.<br> <br> The game changed quickly in the second half.<br> <br> Russell and Maroney gashed the Hoosiers for big chunks of yardage, combining for three touchdown runs in the third quarter. Maroney scored on a 6-yard run early, then Russell scored from 1 yard out and Bryan Cupito threw a 17-yard TD pass to Matt Spaeth before Russell&#39;s 6-yard TD run made it 34-14 late in the third quarter.<br> <br> The Hoosiers never recovered. Blake Powers was 26-of-43 for 253 yards with one interception. He also ran for a touchdown. Chris Taylor finished with 19 carries for 75 yards and two TDs.<br> <br> Maroney, who was slowed in the first half as trainers twice re-taped his right ankle, had 15 carries for 85 yards and passed Thomas Hamner on the Gophers&#39; career rushing list. Maroney has 3,814 career yards rushing and trails Darrell Thompson (4,654). <br> <br> Cupito was 16-of-26 for 225 yards with one TD pass.<br> <br> © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.