Both players played key roles in their team's performances, with Booth scoring a team-high 21 points and Przybilla adding 15 in the Golden Gophers' 69-63 win. Booth's output was two points shy of his career-high 23 points against Minnesota last Jan. 10.

Przybilla, a 7-foot-1 freshman, showed both the toughness inside and added touch outside to possibly assume the role as the conference's top center next season after both Booth and Eschmeyer graduate.

While Eschmeyer and Booth have both proven themselves as conference forces, Przybilla has yet to become the scoring threat that Northwestern and Penn State boast in its centers. He came into last night's game averaging only 6.6 points per game.

But Przybilla seems to play his best when he's up against Booth. Przybilla had 17 points and 13 rebounds when the Nittany Lions met the Gophers at Williams Arena Jan. 9 -- a game Minnesota won, 75-60.

"They're both very good centers," Minnesota coach Clem Haskins said. "Calvin Booth's having a fantastic year. For whatever reason he brings out the best in Joel, and we needed that performance to win the game."

Like his coach, Przybilla had words of praise for Booth after the game.

"He's one of the best big men in college basketball," Przybilla said. "I can't come out slouching against him, because he's going to take it to me."

In their first-ever matchup last month, Przybilla was forced to face one of the conference's dominators in Booth, last season's Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. But it was Przybilla who dominated, and this time Lion coach Jerry Dunn knew Booth had had to show he could perform against a post player of Przybilla's caliber.

"That's something he had to prove," Dunn said. "Obviously, he did. But the results weren't what we wanted."

Booth entered the game averaging a team-best 15.2 points per game to go along with his 8.5 rebounds per game, tied for the team lead with forward Gyasi Cline-Heard. While Booth outscored Przybilla, Przybilla won the battle of the boards with six rebounds to Booth's paltry total of two and matched Booth's blocks total with two.

"He's a good player," a dejected Booth said after the game. "I just try to go out there and play my game."

Despite continuing to emerge this season as the Lions' go-to weapon on offense, Booth struggled to find a bright spot in yet another loss.

"I don't have anything to say," he said. "I'm tired of losing."