University of Minnesota Athletics
Tuesday, February 6
8:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Michigan State
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Ready to Host Michigan State Tuesday Night
2/5/2024 1:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Broadcast: Peacock (Noah Eagle, pbp), Stephen Bardo (color)
Tip Time: 8:02 p.m. CT
Radio: Radio: KFAN 100.3 FM (Mike Grimm, Al Nolen)
Sirius: SiriusXM 85 and on the SiriusXM App
SERIES INFORMATION*
127th Meeting (58-68 all time)
Home Record vs Michigan State: 34-25
Gophers All-Time vs. Big Ten: 792-905
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• Minnesota is back in action Tuesday when the Michigan State Spartans come to town for an 8 p.m., game on Peacock. Tuesday's contest marks the second meeting between the two schools in 19 days and the first time the Gophers have faced the same conference opponent twice this season. Through 10 games of a 20-game league schedule, Minnesota is 5-5 and looking to win three-straight after wins at Penn State and home against Northwestern Saturday.
• Minnesota is 58-68 all time against Michigan State, including a 76-66 loss in East Lansing, Mich., on Jan. 18. In that game, Dawson Garcia had 22 points, followed by Mike Mitchell Jr. with 14 points. Minnesota was short-handed that game as starting point guard Elijah Hawkins missed the game to an injury. The last time the Spartans visited Williams Arena dates back to Dec. 8, 2021 when Michigan State won that contest, 75-67. MSU is currently on a three-game win streak against Minnesota. The last time the Gophers defeated MSU was at Williams Arena on Dec. 28, 2021 in an 81-56 win.
• Minnesota is coming off a win Saturday against Northwestern, 75-66 in overtime at Williams Arena. All five starters scored in double-figures, led by Dawson Garcia's 20 points and Cam Christie's 15. It was Minnesota's first overtime game of the season as the Gophers erased a second-half, nine-point deficit. It marked the fifth conference win for Minnesota, the most under head coach Ben Johnson's tenure. In his first year as head coach, Johnson's 2021-22 team had four wins.
• The Gophers had five score in double figures in the Northwestern win. It marked the eighth time this season that has happened and second-straight game. The Gophers had five individuals in double figure scoring against UTSA, New Orleans, Nebraska, Ball State, Maine, at Michigan, at Penn State and vs. Northwestern. In fact, Minnesota has also had four score in double digits this year (vs. UAPB, FGCU, IUPUI and Maryland). When the Gophers have four or more players score double-digits, the they are 12-0.
• Pharrel Payne reached double-figures for the ninth time this season in the Northwestern win and just missed a point-rebound double-double with a team-high nine rebounds. He also had four blocks, the fourth time this year he's recorded four or more blocks in a game.
CHRISTIE B1G FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
• Cam Christie has been named Big Ten's Freshman of the Week following his performance against Northwestern Saturday. It is Christie's first Big Ten award of his career.
• Christie ranks second on the team in scoring this averaging 10.7 points. In conference action alone Christie also averages 9.9 points, which ties for second on the team. In Saturday's comeback, Christie scored 15 points, including 10 in the second half. He also added two assists in overtime as the Gophers won, 75-66 over the Wildcats. Christie hit a crucial three-pointer with 44 seconds left in regulation to put the Gophers ahead for the first time that half and the eventual overtime win. For the game, Christie played 42 minutes, went 6-of-12 from the field and 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. He also added six rebounds, three assists and two steals. On the season, Christie has scored in double digits 11 times, including back-to-back games.
HAWKINS ASSIST LEADER
• Elijah Hawkins tops the nation in assists per game (7.8) and ranks fifth nationally in total assists at 156. The junior transfer from Howard has had three double-double point/assist games. Hawkins also has had games in which he had double-digit points, including three against Big Ten opponents. The Washington, D.C., native also has five double-digit assist games this season. He also ranks third in the Big Ten and 35th nationally in assist/turnover ratio at 2.84.
GARCIA NAMED KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR CENTER OF THE YEAR FINALIST
• University of Minnesota men's basketball standout Dawson Garcia has been named a top-10 finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, announced Feb. 2 by Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Garcia is one of two Big Ten players named to the top-10 list.
• Despite missing three games to injury, Garcia leads the Golden Gophers in points (318), points per game (17.7), rebounds (122), rebounds per game (6.8), free throws attempted (123) and free throws made (101). Garcia ranks second on the team in minutes played averaging 31.7, has started in all 18 games he's participated in and is also shooting 44 percent from the field. Garcia ranks seventh in the Big Ten in points and 13th in rebounding. Of his 17 games this season, Garcia has led the team in scoring 11 times. The Savage, Minn., product has scored double-digit points in 17 games this year, missing just one game, where he left the game due to injury. Garcia, an All-Big Ten Preseason selection and the season's first Big Ten Player of the Week, also has recorded three point/rebound double-doubles this season.
ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE
• Michigan State is 14-8 overall and 6-5 in the Big Ten, including a 63-54 win over Maryland Saturday in East Lansing, Mich. The Spartans have won five of their last six, including a win over the Gophers in January. Their only loss in that stretch was at ranked Wisconsin on Jan. 26. Since Dec. 16, MSU is 10-3.
• Michigan State is led by a core of seniors in Tyson Walker, Malik Hall and A.J. Hoggard. Walker leads the team averaging 18.9 points and 41 steals. Hall is second on the team in scoring averaging 11.6, while Hoggard is right behind him at 11.5. He also leads the team with 114 assists. Jaden Akins rounds out the double-digit averaging 10.8 ppg. Mady Sissoko averages 6.4 rebounds per game, while Carson Cooper has a team-best 22 blocks.
• As a team, Michigan State averages 75.4 points per game, while allowing just 65.3. Their scoring defense ranks second in the Big Ten and 35th nationally. The Spartans hold a 47.4 field goal percentage and 36.5 from three-point range. The Spartans ranks second in the Big Ten in fast break points and first in field goal percentage defense. They also average 35.1 rebounds per game and shoot 70 percent from the charity stripe.
ON THE DOCKET
• Minnesota hits the road for a Super Bowl Sunday matinee when it travels to Iowa City, Iowa. Game time is set for 2 p.m. and televised on BTN.
• Mike Grimm and Al Nolen will provide the radio broadcast on KFAN 100.3 FM.
Broadcast: Peacock (Noah Eagle, pbp), Stephen Bardo (color)
Tip Time: 8:02 p.m. CT
Radio: Radio: KFAN 100.3 FM (Mike Grimm, Al Nolen)
Sirius: SiriusXM 85 and on the SiriusXM App
SERIES INFORMATION*
127th Meeting (58-68 all time)
Home Record vs Michigan State: 34-25
Gophers All-Time vs. Big Ten: 792-905
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• Minnesota is back in action Tuesday when the Michigan State Spartans come to town for an 8 p.m., game on Peacock. Tuesday's contest marks the second meeting between the two schools in 19 days and the first time the Gophers have faced the same conference opponent twice this season. Through 10 games of a 20-game league schedule, Minnesota is 5-5 and looking to win three-straight after wins at Penn State and home against Northwestern Saturday.
• Minnesota is 58-68 all time against Michigan State, including a 76-66 loss in East Lansing, Mich., on Jan. 18. In that game, Dawson Garcia had 22 points, followed by Mike Mitchell Jr. with 14 points. Minnesota was short-handed that game as starting point guard Elijah Hawkins missed the game to an injury. The last time the Spartans visited Williams Arena dates back to Dec. 8, 2021 when Michigan State won that contest, 75-67. MSU is currently on a three-game win streak against Minnesota. The last time the Gophers defeated MSU was at Williams Arena on Dec. 28, 2021 in an 81-56 win.
• Minnesota is coming off a win Saturday against Northwestern, 75-66 in overtime at Williams Arena. All five starters scored in double-figures, led by Dawson Garcia's 20 points and Cam Christie's 15. It was Minnesota's first overtime game of the season as the Gophers erased a second-half, nine-point deficit. It marked the fifth conference win for Minnesota, the most under head coach Ben Johnson's tenure. In his first year as head coach, Johnson's 2021-22 team had four wins.
• The Gophers had five score in double figures in the Northwestern win. It marked the eighth time this season that has happened and second-straight game. The Gophers had five individuals in double figure scoring against UTSA, New Orleans, Nebraska, Ball State, Maine, at Michigan, at Penn State and vs. Northwestern. In fact, Minnesota has also had four score in double digits this year (vs. UAPB, FGCU, IUPUI and Maryland). When the Gophers have four or more players score double-digits, the they are 12-0.
• Pharrel Payne reached double-figures for the ninth time this season in the Northwestern win and just missed a point-rebound double-double with a team-high nine rebounds. He also had four blocks, the fourth time this year he's recorded four or more blocks in a game.
CHRISTIE B1G FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
• Cam Christie has been named Big Ten's Freshman of the Week following his performance against Northwestern Saturday. It is Christie's first Big Ten award of his career.
• Christie ranks second on the team in scoring this averaging 10.7 points. In conference action alone Christie also averages 9.9 points, which ties for second on the team. In Saturday's comeback, Christie scored 15 points, including 10 in the second half. He also added two assists in overtime as the Gophers won, 75-66 over the Wildcats. Christie hit a crucial three-pointer with 44 seconds left in regulation to put the Gophers ahead for the first time that half and the eventual overtime win. For the game, Christie played 42 minutes, went 6-of-12 from the field and 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. He also added six rebounds, three assists and two steals. On the season, Christie has scored in double digits 11 times, including back-to-back games.
HAWKINS ASSIST LEADER
• Elijah Hawkins tops the nation in assists per game (7.8) and ranks fifth nationally in total assists at 156. The junior transfer from Howard has had three double-double point/assist games. Hawkins also has had games in which he had double-digit points, including three against Big Ten opponents. The Washington, D.C., native also has five double-digit assist games this season. He also ranks third in the Big Ten and 35th nationally in assist/turnover ratio at 2.84.
GARCIA NAMED KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR CENTER OF THE YEAR FINALIST
• University of Minnesota men's basketball standout Dawson Garcia has been named a top-10 finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, announced Feb. 2 by Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Garcia is one of two Big Ten players named to the top-10 list.
• Despite missing three games to injury, Garcia leads the Golden Gophers in points (318), points per game (17.7), rebounds (122), rebounds per game (6.8), free throws attempted (123) and free throws made (101). Garcia ranks second on the team in minutes played averaging 31.7, has started in all 18 games he's participated in and is also shooting 44 percent from the field. Garcia ranks seventh in the Big Ten in points and 13th in rebounding. Of his 17 games this season, Garcia has led the team in scoring 11 times. The Savage, Minn., product has scored double-digit points in 17 games this year, missing just one game, where he left the game due to injury. Garcia, an All-Big Ten Preseason selection and the season's first Big Ten Player of the Week, also has recorded three point/rebound double-doubles this season.
ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE
• Michigan State is 14-8 overall and 6-5 in the Big Ten, including a 63-54 win over Maryland Saturday in East Lansing, Mich. The Spartans have won five of their last six, including a win over the Gophers in January. Their only loss in that stretch was at ranked Wisconsin on Jan. 26. Since Dec. 16, MSU is 10-3.
• Michigan State is led by a core of seniors in Tyson Walker, Malik Hall and A.J. Hoggard. Walker leads the team averaging 18.9 points and 41 steals. Hall is second on the team in scoring averaging 11.6, while Hoggard is right behind him at 11.5. He also leads the team with 114 assists. Jaden Akins rounds out the double-digit averaging 10.8 ppg. Mady Sissoko averages 6.4 rebounds per game, while Carson Cooper has a team-best 22 blocks.
• As a team, Michigan State averages 75.4 points per game, while allowing just 65.3. Their scoring defense ranks second in the Big Ten and 35th nationally. The Spartans hold a 47.4 field goal percentage and 36.5 from three-point range. The Spartans ranks second in the Big Ten in fast break points and first in field goal percentage defense. They also average 35.1 rebounds per game and shoot 70 percent from the charity stripe.
ON THE DOCKET
• Minnesota hits the road for a Super Bowl Sunday matinee when it travels to Iowa City, Iowa. Game time is set for 2 p.m. and televised on BTN.
• Mike Grimm and Al Nolen will provide the radio broadcast on KFAN 100.3 FM.
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