University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, November 12
Asheville, N.C.
5:30 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Western Kentucky
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
Gophers Hit the Road For Asheville Championship
11/11/2021 12:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: ESPNU
Tip Time: 5:30 p.m. CT
Radio: Learfield IMG College/KFAN
Tanner Hoops (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Sirius XM: 986
SERIES information
Series: Third Meeting (2-0)
Series (Neutral): Second Meeting (1-0)
Current Streak: W-2
STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team is on the road for the first time this young season when it travels to the inaugural Asheville Championship, Nov. 12 & 14 in Asheville, N.C. Minnesota is one of four teams competing, which also highlights Western Kentucky, Princeton and South Carolina. The event is created by KemperLesnik, who operates the Maui Jim Maui Invitational and manages the event portion of the McDonald's All American Basketball Games.
• Minnesota leads the all-time series against Western Kentucky, when it won both its previous contests in 2014 and 2010. Maurice Walker had 14 points in the win as Minnesota earned a 76-54 victory on Nov. 18, 2014.
• The Gophers trail South Carolina 0-2 in its previous two meetings, dating back to 1977 and 1978. Minnesota is 3-0 all-time against the Princeton Tigers, with its most recent competition in 2004.
• Minnesota opened the 2021-22 campaign with a 71-56 win over Kansas City Tuesday night at Williams Arena. Jamison Battle scored 18 points, followed by Payton Willis and Eylijah Stephens, who each had 13. Minnesota allowed just four points over the final seven minutes and finished the game on a 17-4 run. Minnesota led 46-35 with 13:17 remaining in the second half but the Roos went on a 17-8 run to draw within 54-52 with 7:42 remaining. Luke Loewe and EJ Stephens combined to score the game's next 10 points for Minnesota and the Gophers led 64-52 with 3:44 to go.
• Head Coach Ben Johnson picked up his first collegiate win as a head coach. Johnson, a Minnesota alum and former Gopher assistant coach, was named the 18th head coach in Gopher men's basketball history, March 22, 2021. Johnson was a two-time team captain for the Maroon and Gold and served as an assistant coach from 2013-18. Prior to his head coaching debut, Johnson was an assistant coach at Xavier for three seasons.
SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
• Western Kentucky opened the 2021-22 season with a 79-74 win over Alabama State Tuesday. The Hilltoppers trailed by 14 at one point, but a 9-0 run at the end won them the game.
• WKU was picked to finish third in the Conference USA Preseason poll.
• Jairus Hamilton had 21 points in the season opener, followed by Dayvion McKnight with 19. McKnight finished his freshman season at WKU with 167 points, 111 assists, 104 rebounds and 28 steals
GOPHERS VS. THE CONFERENCE USA
• Minnesota is 13-5 overall against Conference USA Teams, including a 2-0 record against WKU.
• The last time a Minnesota team played a Conference USA team dates back to the 2017-18 season when the Gophers defeated Florida Atlantic, 95-60, Dec. 23, 2017 at Williams Arena.
TV: ESPNU
Tip Time: 5:30 p.m. CT
Radio: Learfield IMG College/KFAN
Tanner Hoops (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Sirius XM: 986
SERIES information
Series: Third Meeting (2-0)
Series (Neutral): Second Meeting (1-0)
Current Streak: W-2
STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team is on the road for the first time this young season when it travels to the inaugural Asheville Championship, Nov. 12 & 14 in Asheville, N.C. Minnesota is one of four teams competing, which also highlights Western Kentucky, Princeton and South Carolina. The event is created by KemperLesnik, who operates the Maui Jim Maui Invitational and manages the event portion of the McDonald's All American Basketball Games.
• Minnesota leads the all-time series against Western Kentucky, when it won both its previous contests in 2014 and 2010. Maurice Walker had 14 points in the win as Minnesota earned a 76-54 victory on Nov. 18, 2014.
• The Gophers trail South Carolina 0-2 in its previous two meetings, dating back to 1977 and 1978. Minnesota is 3-0 all-time against the Princeton Tigers, with its most recent competition in 2004.
• Minnesota opened the 2021-22 campaign with a 71-56 win over Kansas City Tuesday night at Williams Arena. Jamison Battle scored 18 points, followed by Payton Willis and Eylijah Stephens, who each had 13. Minnesota allowed just four points over the final seven minutes and finished the game on a 17-4 run. Minnesota led 46-35 with 13:17 remaining in the second half but the Roos went on a 17-8 run to draw within 54-52 with 7:42 remaining. Luke Loewe and EJ Stephens combined to score the game's next 10 points for Minnesota and the Gophers led 64-52 with 3:44 to go.
• Head Coach Ben Johnson picked up his first collegiate win as a head coach. Johnson, a Minnesota alum and former Gopher assistant coach, was named the 18th head coach in Gopher men's basketball history, March 22, 2021. Johnson was a two-time team captain for the Maroon and Gold and served as an assistant coach from 2013-18. Prior to his head coaching debut, Johnson was an assistant coach at Xavier for three seasons.
SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
• Western Kentucky opened the 2021-22 season with a 79-74 win over Alabama State Tuesday. The Hilltoppers trailed by 14 at one point, but a 9-0 run at the end won them the game.
• WKU was picked to finish third in the Conference USA Preseason poll.
• Jairus Hamilton had 21 points in the season opener, followed by Dayvion McKnight with 19. McKnight finished his freshman season at WKU with 167 points, 111 assists, 104 rebounds and 28 steals
GOPHERS VS. THE CONFERENCE USA
• Minnesota is 13-5 overall against Conference USA Teams, including a 2-0 record against WKU.
• The last time a Minnesota team played a Conference USA team dates back to the 2017-18 season when the Gophers defeated Florida Atlantic, 95-60, Dec. 23, 2017 at Williams Arena.
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