University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, December 29
1:00 PM
University of Minnesota
8-5,0-2Big Ten
90
vs
68
Morgan State
6-10,0-0MEAC
1
2
F
Morgan St.
37
31
68
Minnesota
55
35
90
Team Stats
Morgan
MINN
FG%
.400
.517
3FG%
.364
.448
FT%
.842
.625
RB
35
35
TO
6
5
STL
3
5
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
6
FTM
0
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Mitchell's 22 Points Propels Gophers to NonConference Finale Win
12/29/2024 3:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Mike Mitchell Jr. led Minnesota with 22 points, including six three-pointers, and Dawson Garcia added 18 points and eight rebounds, as the Gophers (8-5) closed non-conference play with a 90-68 blowout of Morgan State at Williams Arena.
Mitchell Jr. was 8-of-10 from the field, including 6-of-8 from three-point range, and all of his scoring came during the first half. His 22 points were the most in a half for a Minnesota player since Garcia scored 28 points in the second half at Ohio State on Dec. 3, 2023. Mitchell Jr's 6-of-8 performance from three-point range is tied with Gabe Kalscheur (6-of-8 vs Rutgers, 2/16/19) and Kevin Lynch (6-of-8 vs Iowa, 1/21/91) for the fourth-best percentage in team history (min. 8 attempts). His 22 points also marked his highest output at Minnesota, topping his 20-point outing versus Ball State on Dec. 21, 2023, and was just one point shy of his career-high 23 points versus Alabama State while playing for Pepperdine on Nov. 13, 2022.
Garcia was 5-of-7 from the field, which included tying his career-high by going 4-of-5 from three-point range. He added three blocked shots in 24 minutes. Parker Fox finished with 11 points, three rebounds, and three blocks, Frank Mitchell had 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists, Brennan Rigsby added seven points, and Lu'Cye Patterson had six points, a team-high six assists, and three boards. The Gophers made 31-of-60 (.517) field goals, shooting 50 percent or better for the first time since the season-opener, and Minnesota made a season-best 13 three-pointers in 29 attempts (.448).
Minnesota opened the game by making 5-of-7 field goals, including two three-pointers by Mitchell Jr., to grab a 12-9 lead. Garcia knocked down a three to start a 7-0 run, putting Minnesota up 19-11, and a three-point play by Trey Edmonds (5 points, 4 rebounds) made it 22-13. The Bears pulled to within 23-17, but Femi Odukale (2 points, 4 assists) hit a jumper, Rigsby scored on a layup, and Kadyn Betts (4 points, 2 rebounds) connected on a three-pointer for a 30-17 lead, forcing an MSU timeout. Mitchell Jr. knocked down two more three-pointers, making him 4-of-4, as the Gophers expanded the lead to 42-21 with 6:08 left in the half. Mitchell Jr. added his fifth trey to put the Gophers up, 47-26, and made it a perfect 6-of-6 for a 53-32 lead. The Gophers took a 55-37 lead to the locker room, as they shot 19-of-32 (.594) in the first half, including 8-of-17 (.471) from three-point range.
Mitchell Jr. was 8-of-8 from the field, including his six three-pointers, to pace the Gophers with 22 points at the break, while adding four rebounds. Fox had nine points and three blocked shots, and Garcia added seven points and four boards. The 55 first-half points was a season-high in either half for Minnesota, and the 18-point halftime lead was a season-best. Kameron Hobbs led the Bears with 14 points and Will Thomas had 13.
Garcia scored 11 of Minnesota's first 16 points of the second half, including three trifectas, as the Gophers extended the lead to 71-47. Patterson's three-point play gave Minnesota a 74-47 lead, with the 27-point advantage just one shy of Minnesota's largest this season. The Bears used a 6-0 run to trim the lead to 21, but Rigsby scored five points including a three-pointer and Mitchell added four points to keep Minnesota comfortably in front, 83-59. Rigsby's trey during that stretch gave the Gophers a season-high 12 three-pointers, and Caleb Williams hit from deep to put Minnesota up, 86-59.
Minnesota opens the new year and returns to Big Ten action by playing host to No. 21/25 Purdue on Thursday, Jan. 2, at 7:00 p.m. on FS1.
Mitchell Jr. was 8-of-10 from the field, including 6-of-8 from three-point range, and all of his scoring came during the first half. His 22 points were the most in a half for a Minnesota player since Garcia scored 28 points in the second half at Ohio State on Dec. 3, 2023. Mitchell Jr's 6-of-8 performance from three-point range is tied with Gabe Kalscheur (6-of-8 vs Rutgers, 2/16/19) and Kevin Lynch (6-of-8 vs Iowa, 1/21/91) for the fourth-best percentage in team history (min. 8 attempts). His 22 points also marked his highest output at Minnesota, topping his 20-point outing versus Ball State on Dec. 21, 2023, and was just one point shy of his career-high 23 points versus Alabama State while playing for Pepperdine on Nov. 13, 2022.
Garcia was 5-of-7 from the field, which included tying his career-high by going 4-of-5 from three-point range. He added three blocked shots in 24 minutes. Parker Fox finished with 11 points, three rebounds, and three blocks, Frank Mitchell had 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists, Brennan Rigsby added seven points, and Lu'Cye Patterson had six points, a team-high six assists, and three boards. The Gophers made 31-of-60 (.517) field goals, shooting 50 percent or better for the first time since the season-opener, and Minnesota made a season-best 13 three-pointers in 29 attempts (.448).
Minnesota opened the game by making 5-of-7 field goals, including two three-pointers by Mitchell Jr., to grab a 12-9 lead. Garcia knocked down a three to start a 7-0 run, putting Minnesota up 19-11, and a three-point play by Trey Edmonds (5 points, 4 rebounds) made it 22-13. The Bears pulled to within 23-17, but Femi Odukale (2 points, 4 assists) hit a jumper, Rigsby scored on a layup, and Kadyn Betts (4 points, 2 rebounds) connected on a three-pointer for a 30-17 lead, forcing an MSU timeout. Mitchell Jr. knocked down two more three-pointers, making him 4-of-4, as the Gophers expanded the lead to 42-21 with 6:08 left in the half. Mitchell Jr. added his fifth trey to put the Gophers up, 47-26, and made it a perfect 6-of-6 for a 53-32 lead. The Gophers took a 55-37 lead to the locker room, as they shot 19-of-32 (.594) in the first half, including 8-of-17 (.471) from three-point range.
Mitchell Jr. was 8-of-8 from the field, including his six three-pointers, to pace the Gophers with 22 points at the break, while adding four rebounds. Fox had nine points and three blocked shots, and Garcia added seven points and four boards. The 55 first-half points was a season-high in either half for Minnesota, and the 18-point halftime lead was a season-best. Kameron Hobbs led the Bears with 14 points and Will Thomas had 13.
Garcia scored 11 of Minnesota's first 16 points of the second half, including three trifectas, as the Gophers extended the lead to 71-47. Patterson's three-point play gave Minnesota a 74-47 lead, with the 27-point advantage just one shy of Minnesota's largest this season. The Bears used a 6-0 run to trim the lead to 21, but Rigsby scored five points including a three-pointer and Mitchell added four points to keep Minnesota comfortably in front, 83-59. Rigsby's trey during that stretch gave the Gophers a season-high 12 three-pointers, and Caleb Williams hit from deep to put Minnesota up, 86-59.
Minnesota opens the new year and returns to Big Ten action by playing host to No. 21/25 Purdue on Thursday, Jan. 2, at 7:00 p.m. on FS1.
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