Nashville, Tenn. ? Marion Barber III heard all about how Alabama stopped Auburn’s vaunted running backs.

Barber and teammate Laurence Maroney simply thought they were better.

Minnesota coach glen Mason, left, celebrates the Gophers' victory over Alabama with players Rian Melander, center, and Justin Fraley. Minnesota defeated the Crimson Tide, 20-16, Friday in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn.

Barber ran for 187 yards and a touchdown, and Maroney added 105 yards to lead Minnesota to a 20-16 victory over Alabama in the Music City Bowl on Friday.

Barber and Maroney, the only teammates in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards each in consecutive seasons, were the only runners to go over 100 yards in a game this season against the Crimson Tide, which entered with the nation’s second-ranked defense.

“They’re a duo, and they’re both going to come at you,” Minnesota coach Glen Mason said. The former Kansas University coach’s team finished 7-5. “They must be pretty good, I guess.”

Alabama held Auburn to just 74 yards rushing in the Crimson Tide’s previous game.

“I never looked at that,” the soft-spoken Barber said. “We just came in more prepared.”

The Gophers ran for 276 yards and overcame three turnovers on their first three drives.

Rhys Lloyd, who made field goals from 27 and 24 yards, missed a 24-yarder with 5:34 left that would have sealed it.

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Mason admitted he was worried because Minnesota lost games late against Michigan and Iowa.

“When we missed the field goal that would have put us in pretty good shape, I said, ‘Here we go again,”‘ Mason said. “I know if I’m thinking that, so are our kids, but we fought through.”

On Minnesota’s next possession, it was pinned deep in its own end and elected to take a safety to make it 20-16 rather than attempt a punt. The decision nearly backfired.

Alabama’s Tyrone Prothro returned the free kick to the Minnesota 48, and four completions by Spencer Pennington got the Crimson Tide to the 15. But Pennington overthrew Prothro in the end zone on third down and couldn’t convert a fourth-and-five with 1:14 to left.