University of Minnesota Athletics
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12-5,3-3Big Ten
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Gophers Falter at Home to Iowa
1/15/2024 7:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Despite Dawson Garcia's 30-point performance, the University of Minnesota men's basketball team fell to 3-3 in the Big Ten and 12-5 overall in an 86-77 loss to Iowa, Monday night on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Iowa improved to 11-6 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten. Joshua Ola-Joseph had 15 points and Cam Christie had 12 to round out Minnesota's high scorers. It was Garcia's second 30-point game of the season and in Big Ten play.Â
Iowa shot 53.8 percent from the field, while Minnesota was held to 48.3 percent. The Hawkeyes also outrebounded the Gophers, 37-30.Â
Minnesota shot out to an early 14-3 lead in the first four minutes of the game. Garcia contributed six points with two field goals and two free throws. Iowa responded and would take a 20-18 lead with 10:27 remaining. Garcia would make five-straight points to cut the Iowa lead to two (30-28 Iowa) with 3:17 left in the half.Â
Unfortunately, Iowa would finish the first half strong by out-scoring the Gophers 9-4. Garcia and Ola-Joseph both still led the team in scoring with 11 points; Elijah Hawkins led the team in assists with five and rebounds with five at the half.Â
At the first media timeout of the second half at 15:57, Iowa led 46-41; Both teams exchanged baskets almost immediately after one team would score. Christie had 7 of the nine Gopher points by going 3-3 during this stretch; Garcia's jumper would give him a team-lead of 13. Both teams continued to exchange buckets into the second media timeout at 11:57 when Iowa led 52-45. A Christie three-point play with 14:40 left would cut the Iowa lead to four (48-44), but Iowa closed out the game with the win.Â
Minnesota plays at Michigan State, Jan. 18, at 5:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on FS1 and broadcast on KTLK (1130 AM/103.5 FM) through the Gopher Radio Network.Â