Advertisement

Gophers men’s basketball: Minnesota rallies after slow start but loses to North Texas State

john shipley, pioneer press
·4 min read

To say the Gophers men’s basketball team started slow Wednesday is an understatement. Playing without starting point guard Mike Mitchell Jr., Minnesota couldn’t get anything going offensively early against North Texas State.

Even with Dawson Garcia, a game-time decision because of a groin injury, on the floor, the Gophers shot 14.3% from the field — they made three total field goals — and trailed the Mean Green, 23-12, at intermission.

It wasn’t a whole lot prettier in the second half, but the Gophers rallied to make a game of it, even taking a 43-42 lead with 7:27 remaining. In the end, though, they didn’t have enough to topple the Mean Green in a 54-51 loss at Williams Arena.

Garcia scored a game-high of 24 points and eight rebounds, but Minnesota’s offense was otherwise dormant against unbeaten North Texas (3-0). Lu’cye Patterson’s nine points was the closest to double figures any other Gopher managed.

“They’re obviously really good defensively. We knew that coming in,” Gophers coach Ben Johnson said. “And they force you, at some point, to make perimeter jump shots, and you’ve got to make them.”

Without Mitchell and sophomore Kadyn Betts, Johnson turned to newcomers in senior transfers Patterson and Femi Odukale, and freshman Isaac Asuma to run the floor — and it was tough skating early. The Gophers didn’t score until Parker Fox made one of two free throws at 16:23, went more than 11 minutes without a field goal and didn’t manage their 10th point until there was 4:33 left in the half.

But Minnesota was tough on the other end and that kept them within spitting distance.

“Defense is one of the things that we stress every day; it’s one of the main things that we focus on,” forward Trey Edmonds said. “I feel like we did a fair job tonight, but there’s still a lot of work to do.”

The defense paid off quickly in the second half when a 7-0 run to start the frame put Minnesota right back in it, 23-21.

From there, it was a slog — missed shots, clock violations, missed free throws, turnovers and technical fouls with neither team able to break free.

The Gophers shot 31.3% from the field overall (15 for 48), and 26.1% from 3-point range (6 for 23). Minnesota outrebounded North Texas, 39-37, but officially had 13 turnovers to the Mean Green’s eight.

Brennan Rigsby finally gave the Gophers a lead, 43-42, when he nailed a 3-pointer from the right corner on a feed by Asuma. But North Texas scored the next eight points on 3-pointers by Latrell Jossell and Rondell Walker.

“We were in a groove, and you want to build on that. You want to keep the momentum going, especially at home,” Johnson said. “You want to be able to learn through wins, but we’ve got to be able to learn through all of this, and be able to take a step. Even in a loss, we have to find a way to take a step.”

Garcia pulled down an offensive rebound and potted a layup to pull Minnesota to within 52-51 with 30 seconds left, and the Gophers had a chance to win it late after Tryan Mason then missed the front end of a 1 and 1.

But Patterson missed a 3-pointer, and Massie rebounded and called time out with 3 seconds left. Fans wanted a traveling call on Massie. So did some of the Gophers players. But it didn’t happen.

Lorient’s dunk off a long inbounds pass sealed it.

Garcia said he never had a doubt in his mind that he would play, and that he has great confidence in this iteration of the Gophers, which includes another large handful of transfers such as Patterson, Odukale and power forward Frank Mitchell, who made his regular-season debut Wednesday,

“This is my third locker room since I’ve been at the U of M, and I’m inspired, honestly,” the senior wing said. “There have been times, like that first year, where you’re like, ‘Man.’ … But I’m inspired with this roster, with this team, and I still 100 percent think we’re going to do great things, just because I know what I’ve seen and how we’ve come together.

“We’re a super-connected group. I’m not just saying that. Every single time we step on the floor, I’m not worried about anybody wanting to compete.”

The Gophers’ next game is set for Saturday afternoon against Yale at the Barn. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.

Briefly

High school seniors Kai Shinholster and Jacob Ross have officially joined the Gophers’ 2025-26 roster and will join the team for summer practice, Johnson announced. Shinholster is a 6-foot-5 guard from Philadelphia and a three-star recruit, according to Rivals and 247Sports. Ross, a 6-6 guard from Bristow, Va., is a four-star recruit with Rivals.

Related Articles