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Sunday, February 1
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1:00 PM
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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Set to Travel to Penn State For Sunday Matinee
1/30/2026 1:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: Peacock and NBC Sports (PBP - Mike Corey, Analyst - Nik Stauskas)
Tip Time: 1:02 p.m. CT
Radio: KFAN (100.3 FM) - Mike Grimm, Al Nolen)
Sirius: 389
SERIES INFORMATION*
All-Time Series: 50th Meeting (MN Leads, 33-16)
Last Meeting: Feb. 22, 2025 (PSU Win, 69-60)
Medved vs. PSU: 0-1
MN vs. Big Ten Teams: 824-957
* excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The Golden Gopher men's basketball team is on the road for the second time this week as it travels to Penn State Sunday, Feb. 1. This is the first and only meeting between the two teams this year. The Gophers and Nittany Lions faced each other twice last season and split those games, with each winning on the road.
• This is Niko Medved's second time as head coach facing Penn State and first as the Gopher coach. His Colorado State team lost 68-56 in the Charleston Classic (neutral site) on Nov. 20, 2022.
• Minnesota is looking to get back into the win column and snap a six-game streak after falling 67-63 at Wisconsin on Wednesday. The Badgers were limited to five field goals in the opening 20 minutes and 17 points in the first half. The Badgers scored the first 10 points of the second half and outscored Minnesota 20-4 to pull within two points with 10:37 left, but the Gophers were able to build as much as an eight-point lead (47-39) before a 12-3 run gave UW its first lead since 3-2. A 7-2 run to secure the comeback win and the 67-63 final. Cade Tyson missed the game due to injury.
• Bobby Durkin has had his best point production of the Big Ten season in the past two games. Against then-No. 7 Nebraska on Jan. 24, Durkin went 6-of-13 for 16 points. He bettered that total Wednesday when he scored 17 points in the first half, including a season-high five three pointers en route to 20 points and 7-of-8 from the field. On the season, Durkin averages nine points and 42 percent from the field.
• Grayson Grove took over a starting role in Tyson's absence on Wednesday. He had nine points, tied his career high with six rebounds, and added three steals and a pair of assists. The redshirt freshman's career-best came off the bench vs. Northwestern when he had 12 points.
ALL-TIME SERIES
• Minnesota is 33-16 all-time against the Nittany Lions, dating back to 1975. The Gophers are 12-10 in State College, including a 69-61 win last year.
• Last year at BJC, Minnesota rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit to post a 69-61 win. Dawson Garcia had a game-high total of 19 points, while Brennan Rigsby came off the bench to score 14.
• However, in the most recent meeting on Feb. 22, 2025, PSU earned the road victory, 69-60. Konan Niederhauser had a game-high 24 points, while Ace Baldwin Jr. and Freddie Dilione V finished with 10 points.
ABOUT THE NITTANY LIONS
• Penn State played at Northwestern on Thursday night and suffered a 94-73 loss to drop them to 9-12 overall and 0-10 in league action. PSU is back at home after two straight road games, playing at Bryce Jordan Center for the first time since Jan. 22.
• The Nittany Lions are led by freshman standout Kayden Mingo, who has started in all 18 games he's played in and averages a team-best 14.1 points and 85 assists. Returner Freddie Dilione V ranks second on the team, averaging 13.4 points, while transfer Josh Reed is third at 9.7 ppg. Ivan Juric leads the team in rebounds (5.1).
• As a team, Penn State averages 76.4 points, while allowing 78.5. PSU is 46.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the arc. The Nittany Lions average 30.2 rebounds per game and have 147 steals, which is third-best in the B1G. They also rank fourth in the league in bench points and fouls per game and fifth in fast break points.
ON THE DOCKET
• The Gophers return to Williams Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 4 to host the No. 7 Michigan State Spartans. Tip is at 6 p.m. on Big Ten Network. Mike Grimm and Al Nolen will provide the radio call on KTLK (103.5FM & AM 1130).
TV: Peacock and NBC Sports (PBP - Mike Corey, Analyst - Nik Stauskas)
Tip Time: 1:02 p.m. CT
Radio: KFAN (100.3 FM) - Mike Grimm, Al Nolen)
Sirius: 389
SERIES INFORMATION*
All-Time Series: 50th Meeting (MN Leads, 33-16)
Last Meeting: Feb. 22, 2025 (PSU Win, 69-60)
Medved vs. PSU: 0-1
MN vs. Big Ten Teams: 824-957
* excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The Golden Gopher men's basketball team is on the road for the second time this week as it travels to Penn State Sunday, Feb. 1. This is the first and only meeting between the two teams this year. The Gophers and Nittany Lions faced each other twice last season and split those games, with each winning on the road.
• This is Niko Medved's second time as head coach facing Penn State and first as the Gopher coach. His Colorado State team lost 68-56 in the Charleston Classic (neutral site) on Nov. 20, 2022.
• Minnesota is looking to get back into the win column and snap a six-game streak after falling 67-63 at Wisconsin on Wednesday. The Badgers were limited to five field goals in the opening 20 minutes and 17 points in the first half. The Badgers scored the first 10 points of the second half and outscored Minnesota 20-4 to pull within two points with 10:37 left, but the Gophers were able to build as much as an eight-point lead (47-39) before a 12-3 run gave UW its first lead since 3-2. A 7-2 run to secure the comeback win and the 67-63 final. Cade Tyson missed the game due to injury.
• Bobby Durkin has had his best point production of the Big Ten season in the past two games. Against then-No. 7 Nebraska on Jan. 24, Durkin went 6-of-13 for 16 points. He bettered that total Wednesday when he scored 17 points in the first half, including a season-high five three pointers en route to 20 points and 7-of-8 from the field. On the season, Durkin averages nine points and 42 percent from the field.
• Grayson Grove took over a starting role in Tyson's absence on Wednesday. He had nine points, tied his career high with six rebounds, and added three steals and a pair of assists. The redshirt freshman's career-best came off the bench vs. Northwestern when he had 12 points.
ALL-TIME SERIES
• Minnesota is 33-16 all-time against the Nittany Lions, dating back to 1975. The Gophers are 12-10 in State College, including a 69-61 win last year.
• Last year at BJC, Minnesota rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit to post a 69-61 win. Dawson Garcia had a game-high total of 19 points, while Brennan Rigsby came off the bench to score 14.
• However, in the most recent meeting on Feb. 22, 2025, PSU earned the road victory, 69-60. Konan Niederhauser had a game-high 24 points, while Ace Baldwin Jr. and Freddie Dilione V finished with 10 points.
ABOUT THE NITTANY LIONS
• Penn State played at Northwestern on Thursday night and suffered a 94-73 loss to drop them to 9-12 overall and 0-10 in league action. PSU is back at home after two straight road games, playing at Bryce Jordan Center for the first time since Jan. 22.
• The Nittany Lions are led by freshman standout Kayden Mingo, who has started in all 18 games he's played in and averages a team-best 14.1 points and 85 assists. Returner Freddie Dilione V ranks second on the team, averaging 13.4 points, while transfer Josh Reed is third at 9.7 ppg. Ivan Juric leads the team in rebounds (5.1).
• As a team, Penn State averages 76.4 points, while allowing 78.5. PSU is 46.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the arc. The Nittany Lions average 30.2 rebounds per game and have 147 steals, which is third-best in the B1G. They also rank fourth in the league in bench points and fouls per game and fifth in fast break points.
ON THE DOCKET
• The Gophers return to Williams Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 4 to host the No. 7 Michigan State Spartans. Tip is at 6 p.m. on Big Ten Network. Mike Grimm and Al Nolen will provide the radio call on KTLK (103.5FM & AM 1130).
Highlights: Gophers 63, Wisconsin 67
Wednesday, January 28
Highlights: Gophers 57, Nebraska 76
Saturday, January 24
Highlights: Gophers 74, Ohio State 82
Tuesday, January 20
Highlights: Gophers 67, Illinois 77
Saturday, January 17