University of Minnesota Athletics

Saturday, November 18
1:00 PM

University of Minnesota

3-1,0-0Big Ten

67
vs
53

South Carolina - Upstate

2-3,0-0Big South

1
2
F
USC Upstate
29
24
53
Minnesota
31
36
67

Team Stats

USCU
MINN
FG%
.339
.397
3FG%
.286
.217
FT%
.455
.842
RB
35
44
TO
9
11
STL
7
2

Game Leaders

Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0

Players Mentioned

Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Ola-Joseph Joshua
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson

Gophers Return to Win Column In Win Over USC Upstate

11/18/2023 3:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball

The University of Minnesota men's basketball team won its third game of the 2023-2024 season with a 67-53 win over USC Upstate, today at Williams Arena. With the win, Minnesota improves to 3-1 and USC Upstate drops to 2-3.

Nine Golden Gophers recorded a point in the win, led by Dawson Garcia with 14 points. Elijah Hawkins, Joshua Ola-Joseph, and Mike Mitchell Jr all followed with nine apiece. Pharell Payne tied a career high four blocks, and added seven points and five rebounds.



Minnesota trailed for part of the first half, until Hawkins converted on an and-one layup to give the Gophers a 20-18 lead going into the seven-minute mark. The Gophers maintained that lead for the rest of the half, closing with a 31-29 lead. Minnesota was led in scoring by Garcia with eight points, while Payne and Hawkins each finished with five.

The Gophers kept it close early on in the second half, until they went on a 7-0 scoring run to jump out to a 51-41 lead at the eleven-minute mark. USC Upstate cut the lead down to five, making it 57-52 with 4:38 left. Minnesota, however, responded down the stretch going on a 6-0 run over 1:52, with all six points coming from Garcia. The Gophers forced USC Upstate to go scoreless for the last 2:16, as the Spartans went 0-of-8 on field goals to end the game.

Minnesota finished the game shooting 23-of-58 (.396) from the field, while shooting 16-of 19 (.842) from the free throw line and had a game-best 44 rebounds. Minnesota also produced 26 bench points to the Spartan's eight.

The Gophers return to Williams Arena next Tuesday, Nov 21. against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m., on Big Ten Network.
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