EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) _ Minnesota will take its first Big Ten road win in almost five years, even if it wasn't one for the history books.

Thomas Hamner rushed for 118 yards and scored two touchdowns, Billy Cockerham threw for 222 yards and the Minnesota defense was as stifling as expected Saturday as the Golden Gophers beat Northwestern 33-14.

It was Minnesota's first Big Ten road win since Oct. 22, 1994, and the first time since 1990 the Gophers won a Big Ten opener on the road.

``We're ecstatic that we came away with a victory,'' Minnesota coach Glen Mason said. ``But it's a good news/bad news thing. The bad being we lost a little concentration and made some mistakes...(and had) way too many penalties.''

Though Minnesota is 4-0 for the first time since 1987, Mason was quick to say his team doesn't belong in the Top 25. Not until it eliminates the mistakes that allowed Northwestern (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) to stay in the game until Cockerham's 64-yard pass to Hamner gave the Gophers a 24-14 lead with seven seconds left in the third quarter.

Minnesota gave up 78 yards on 11 penalties, most of them on false starts. While Northwestern was held to 95 yards rushing, the Gophers allowed 225 yards passing and blew three other scoring opportunities.

``We've got a 2.0 GPA right now,'' Mason said. ``We're just staying eligible right now. Our competition will stiffen this week.''

Still, the Gophers are undefeated _ and that's more than Big Ten powerhouses Wisconsin and Ohio State can say.

``We've passed a test simply by winning a Big Ten game on the road,'' Cockerham said.

While Cockerham and the offense came up with some big plays _ Antoine Henderson set up Minnesota's second score with a 63-yard run and Luke Leverson caught seven passes for 68 yards _ the defense really made the difference. The defense, which came into the game limiting opponents to 4.7 points a game, second-best in the nation, had three interceptions and recovered three fumbles.

Cornerback Jimmy Wyrick set up Minnesota's first score when he intercepted Nick Kreinbrink's pass in the first quarter. He returned it 54 yards before Kreinbrink shoved him out of bounds at the Northwestern 16. Five plays later, Cockerham ran into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

In the fourth quarter, linebacker Ben Mezera forced a fumble when he sacked Zak Kustok, and John Schlect recovered at the Northwestern 16. Leverson ran for the touchdown on the next play, giving Minnesota a 31-14 lead.

``Northwestern looked really good against Purdue, so we knew it would be tough,'' Mezera said. ``We haven't had a road win since '94, so not even the fifth-year seniors have had a chance to enjoy one.''

The Gophers also scored on Hamner's 7-yard run and 64-yard catch, and a 27-yard field goal by Dan Nystrom.

Minnesota's victory spoiled the debut of Kustok, who sued the NCAA to regain his eligibility. The NCAA initially said Kustok, who transferred after one year at Notre Dame and spent last year at a junior college, could not play in Northwestern's first seven games.

But in a settlement reached last month, Kustok was allowed to play in the Wildcats' final seven games.

Kreinbrink lasted just three series before being replaced by Kustok, going a dismal 1-of-6 for 14 yards with one interception.

``I was a little upset at the time, but I understood,'' Kreinbrink said. ``Zak came in and did a great job for us today.''

In his second series, Kustok hit Teddy Johnson with a 49-yard touchdown pass to cut Minnesota's lead to 14-7 with 2:09 left in the first quarter. He also had an 11-yard scoring run in the third quarter.

But Kustok didn't get enough help, getting sacked seven times and hurried countless others. He finished the day 7-of-15 for 173 yards, and rushed for another 35 yards.

``It felt really good after a year of not playing to get out there,'' Kustok said. ``But we didn't win, so it wasn't good enough.''