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Gophers Close Out Nonconference Slate Thursday
12/27/2022 6:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UPDATE ON DEC. 28-The Minnesota/Alcorn State game was canceled due to travel-related complications with Alcorn State.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Stream: B1G +
Tip Time: 7:01 p.m. CT
Radio: Learfield IMG: KTLK 1130 AM, 103.5 FM
Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play), Spencer Tollackson (Color)
Sirius: 383
SERIES INFORMATION
Second All-Time Meeting
Minnesota is 1-0 at home vs. the Braves
Minnesota all-time vs. SWAC Teams: 10-0
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team is back in action Thursday night as the Golden Gophers host Alcorn State at 7 p.m. It is Minnesota's first game since Dec. 22 as the Golden Gophers are coming off a 58-55 win over Chicago State. The Alcorn State game will also close out nonconference play for the Gophers as Minnesota is scheduled to begin their full conference slate on Jan. 3 at Wisconsin.
• For the second-straight year, Minnesota is scheduled to play Alcorn State on Dec. 29. Last year's contest between the two teams, however, was canceled due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols within the Alcorn State program. The last time Minnesota faced Alcorn State dates back to Dec. 28, 1985. The Gophers defeated the Braves, 110-72 at Williams Arena in the first and only meeting.
• Guard Ta'Lon Cooper is 10 assists away from reaching his 500th career assist. The junior from Roebuck, S.C., established 407 during his Morehead State tenure, including 202 in 2021-22. With the Gophers, Cooper has established 83 assists this season.
• Minnesota is coming off a 58-55 win over Chicago State on Dec. 22 at Williams Arena. Dawson Garcia led Minnesota (6-6) with 18 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Jamison Battle added 14 points and five boards.
• Minnesota has three freshmen that average nearly 20 minutes played this season in Braeden Carrington (24.8), Pharrel Payne (21.1) and Jaden Henley (19.6). In fact, Minnesota has four freshmen who average over 17 minutes of action with Joshua Ola-Joseph averaging 17.6. No other Big Ten team has more than two freshman playing 20+ minutes per game and Minnesota is the only team that has four freshmen average over 17.
Purdue (Smith/Loyer), Ohio State (Sensabaugh/Thornton) and Illinois (Clark/Epps) all have two. In fact, within the Big Ten, only six schools have a single freshman that averages over 20 minutes played this season.
GOPHERS VS. SWAC
• The Alcorn State game marks the second SWAC opponent in the past three games for the Gophers. Minnesota defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 72-56, on Dec. 14 to improve to 10-0 all time against members of the SWAC.
ABOUT ALCORN STATE
• Alcorn State is seeing its first action since Dec. 20 and enters the Minnesota game with a 3-9 overall record. No strangers to road games, the Braves have played in road or neutral games since the start of the season. Alcorn's wins came at Wichita State, at Stephen F. Austin and vs. CSU Bakersfield (in El Paso, Texas). The Braves are coming off an 88-46 loss to Dayton in their last action.
• Dominic Brewton averages a team-best 11.9 points, followed by Byron Joshua at 10.1 and Dekedran Thorn at 8.1. Joshua leads the team with 27 assists, while Jeremiah Kendall averages a team-best 5.9 rebounds per game.
• As a team, the Braves average 60 points per game, allows 74.9 ppg, and is shooting 36.4 percent from the field. Alcorn is also shooting 25.6 from beyond the arc and 67.1 at the charity stripe. The Braves also average 34.3 rebounds per game.
ON THE DOCKET
• Following the Alcorn State game, the Gophers will face Big Ten Conference opponents the remainder of the regular season. Minnesota opens January at Wisconsin, Jan. 3 at 8 p.m. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network.
• Mike Grimm and Spencer Tollackson will also be on the radio call on KFAN 100.3 FM.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Stream: B1G +
Tip Time: 7:01 p.m. CT
Radio: Learfield IMG: KTLK 1130 AM, 103.5 FM
Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play), Spencer Tollackson (Color)
Sirius: 383
SERIES INFORMATION
Second All-Time Meeting
Minnesota is 1-0 at home vs. the Braves
Minnesota all-time vs. SWAC Teams: 10-0
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team is back in action Thursday night as the Golden Gophers host Alcorn State at 7 p.m. It is Minnesota's first game since Dec. 22 as the Golden Gophers are coming off a 58-55 win over Chicago State. The Alcorn State game will also close out nonconference play for the Gophers as Minnesota is scheduled to begin their full conference slate on Jan. 3 at Wisconsin.
• For the second-straight year, Minnesota is scheduled to play Alcorn State on Dec. 29. Last year's contest between the two teams, however, was canceled due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols within the Alcorn State program. The last time Minnesota faced Alcorn State dates back to Dec. 28, 1985. The Gophers defeated the Braves, 110-72 at Williams Arena in the first and only meeting.
• Guard Ta'Lon Cooper is 10 assists away from reaching his 500th career assist. The junior from Roebuck, S.C., established 407 during his Morehead State tenure, including 202 in 2021-22. With the Gophers, Cooper has established 83 assists this season.
• Minnesota is coming off a 58-55 win over Chicago State on Dec. 22 at Williams Arena. Dawson Garcia led Minnesota (6-6) with 18 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Jamison Battle added 14 points and five boards.
• Minnesota has three freshmen that average nearly 20 minutes played this season in Braeden Carrington (24.8), Pharrel Payne (21.1) and Jaden Henley (19.6). In fact, Minnesota has four freshmen who average over 17 minutes of action with Joshua Ola-Joseph averaging 17.6. No other Big Ten team has more than two freshman playing 20+ minutes per game and Minnesota is the only team that has four freshmen average over 17.
Purdue (Smith/Loyer), Ohio State (Sensabaugh/Thornton) and Illinois (Clark/Epps) all have two. In fact, within the Big Ten, only six schools have a single freshman that averages over 20 minutes played this season.
GOPHERS VS. SWAC
• The Alcorn State game marks the second SWAC opponent in the past three games for the Gophers. Minnesota defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 72-56, on Dec. 14 to improve to 10-0 all time against members of the SWAC.
ABOUT ALCORN STATE
• Alcorn State is seeing its first action since Dec. 20 and enters the Minnesota game with a 3-9 overall record. No strangers to road games, the Braves have played in road or neutral games since the start of the season. Alcorn's wins came at Wichita State, at Stephen F. Austin and vs. CSU Bakersfield (in El Paso, Texas). The Braves are coming off an 88-46 loss to Dayton in their last action.
• Dominic Brewton averages a team-best 11.9 points, followed by Byron Joshua at 10.1 and Dekedran Thorn at 8.1. Joshua leads the team with 27 assists, while Jeremiah Kendall averages a team-best 5.9 rebounds per game.
• As a team, the Braves average 60 points per game, allows 74.9 ppg, and is shooting 36.4 percent from the field. Alcorn is also shooting 25.6 from beyond the arc and 67.1 at the charity stripe. The Braves also average 34.3 rebounds per game.
ON THE DOCKET
• Following the Alcorn State game, the Gophers will face Big Ten Conference opponents the remainder of the regular season. Minnesota opens January at Wisconsin, Jan. 3 at 8 p.m. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network.
• Mike Grimm and Spencer Tollackson will also be on the radio call on KFAN 100.3 FM.
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