Gophers Back Home Against Purdue Fort Wayne Friday

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Stream: BTN +
Tip Time: 6:01 p.m.
Radio: Learfield IMG College/ KFAN 100.3
Tanner Hoops (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)

SERIES INFORMATION
Series: First Meeting
Minnesota vs. Horizon League: 18-3

STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball returns to Williams Arena Friday night when it hosts Purdue Fort Wayne at 6 p.m. The Golden Gophers and Mastodons will compete in their first-ever meeting between the two schools.
• Minnesota is coming off a tournament win last weekend when the Golden Gophers won the inaugural Asheville Championship, Nov. 12 & 14 in Asheville, N.C. It was the first regular season tournament win since 2018 when the Gophers won the Vancouver Showcase. The Gophers open the Ben Johnson coaching era 3-0 with a win on Nov. 9 against Kansas City and a pair of wins at the tournament over Western Kentucky and Princeton.
• Payton Willis was the tournament MVP. At the end of regulation, he had 13 points, but he was unstoppable in the overtime periods. Willis combined for 16 of his career-high 29 points to propel the Gophers to the win and earn Asheville Championship MVP honors in the process. Willis recorded his first career point-rebound double-double, with the 29 points and a career-best 10 rebounds. For the game, he made 11-of-18 field goals (6-of-6 in the OTs), while adding three steals, two assists, and a career-best two blocked shots. Willis averaged 24 points in the two games in Asheville. Willis was the first guard to have a double double with points and rebounds since Marcus Carr accomplished the feat against Oklahoma on Nov. 9, 2019.
• Jamison Battle has started the season red hot as he was named to the Asheville Championship All-Tournament Team. He finished with his first double-double of the season, as he had 24 points and 11 rebounds in 48 minutes. The 20-point game was the second straight for Battle, who made 10-of-17 field goals. Battle is averaging 20.7 points per game this season.
• Sean Sutherlin came off the bench in Sunday's win and finished with 14 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes. Sutherlin used his quickness to get to the rim, and six of his 14 points came at the free throw line after drawing fouls on those drives.

FOOD DRIVE DONATIONS
• Fans can bring 3+ non perishable food items and receive a discounted ticket for PFW game that evening.
• Collection bins will be located at Oak and Univ. Ave. lobby areas. Bring in your collections to the bin and receive a discount at the ticket window.

SCOUTING THE MASTADONS
• Purdue Fort Wayne opened the 2021-22 season with a 103-54 win over Earlham (Nov. 9), followed by a win over Austin Peay Tuesday, 65-60. It's the first time since 2014-15 PFW has opened the season 2-0.
• Ra Kpedi finished with a career-high 17 points in Tuesday's win over Austin Peay. He averages 14.0 per game and a team-best 5.5 rebounds per game. Jarred Godfrey and Jalon Pipkins each average 14.5 ppg.
• Jon Coffman is in his eighth year as head coach. He was named the 2015-16 Summit League Coach of the Year when his team won the conference's regular season title that same year.

GOPHERS VS. THE HORIZON LEAGUE
• The University of Minnesota is 18-3 all-time against the Horizon League. Minnesota's last Horizon League opponent was Green Bay in a 99-69 opening season win last year on Nov. 25, 2020.
• Purdue University Fort Wayne joined the Horizon League during the 2020-2021 academic year. The Horizon League Board of Directors approved the university's application for membership in 2019. Purdue Fort Wayne officially joined the League on July 1, 2020. PFW competed in the Summit League prior to the 2020-21 season.

UP NEXT
• Minnesota is back in action Wednesday, Nov. 24, at 8 p.m., when Jacksonville comes to town the game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network and on KTLK (AM-1130), FM 103.5 with Mike Grimm and Spencer Tollackson.

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Players Mentioned

Jamison Battle

Marcus Carr

Sean Sutherlin

Payton Willis