Dawson Garcia, the leading scorer for the Gophers, returned after missing three games due to an ankle injury. The team improved in his absence, with several players growing in expanded roles. The Gophers won their game against Maine with a fifth straight win, and Elijah Hawkins and Mike Mitchell Jr. played crucial roles in the victory. The team's performance was analyzed as they head into Big Ten play, with a focus on their experienced backcourt. Coach Ben Johnson expressed trust in his veteran guards as they prepared for the upcoming games.
Minnesota at Michigan Men’s College Basketball 9 pm ET Peacock @JacCollinsworth (pbp) & @stephenbardo (analyst) #CBB #MBB
#Gophers coach Ben Johnson on his veteran guards @HoopDreams2021 and @eslimee_ heading back into Big Ten play: "You're looking at a lot of trust in your backcourt." @GopherMBB https://t.co/5bPpdL5Ecm
Big Ten play resumes Thursday night at Michigan for the #Gophers, with Elijah Hawkins and Mike Mitchell Jr. giving them their most experienced backcourt since 2021. @Marcus_R_Fuller has the report: https://t.co/v38xnFAVq4
Is #Gophers backcourt Big Ten ready? Elijah Hawkins, Mike Mitchell Jr. lead the way as @B1GMBBall league play resumes Thursday at Michigan @StribSports @GopherMBB @HoopDreams2021 @eslimee_ https://t.co/jt5XGlcV36
Four things learned for a #Gophers men's basketball team riding a five-game winning streak as Big Ten play resumes @StribSports @GopherMBB @bigten https://t.co/wigvWois2B
Big Ten men's basketball power rankings: Conference play resumes today. Where do the #Gophers rank heading into Thursday's matchup at Michigan? @StribSports @B1GMBBall https://t.co/Ni2vpSaWX3
Updated gamer: #Gophers men's basketball beats Maine 80-62 to wrap nonconference season with fifth straight win @StribSports @GopherMBB @B1GMBBall https://t.co/aOOkECuV35
Ben Johnson talks about Dawson Garcia's return Friday night and the #Gophers overcoming slow start to pull away from Maine for fifth straight win. @StribSports @GopherMBB https://t.co/2rhE11Rz6F
The Gophers get their 5th straight win by 10+ points. @GopherMBB https://t.co/uWP2rslets
#Gophers with first field goal of second half to stop Maine's 8-0 run. Take 45-38 lead https://t.co/C9Uuggxfv7
Another slow start to the half for #Gophers with Maine cutting it to 43-38. Not sure this is the right lineup tonight.
HALFTIME: #Gophers 41, Maine 28. Mitchell 12 pts 4-6 3-pt FGs Hawkins 10 pts 4-5 FGs 4 assts Ola-Joseph 9 pts 4-6 FGs Team 52% FG 8-14 3-pt FGs. M: Tynes 8 pts 39% FG 2-8 3-pt FGs @StribSports
Hawkins to Mitchell for 3 has been the #Gophers best offense tonight. Mitchell has his fourth three-pointer for team-high 12 points. MN 36-26. @HoopDreams2021 has eight threes combined in his last two games and it's not halftime yet.
Easy to see what gets #Gophers going offensively. Ball movement. First four field goals had no assists. Next seven field goals were assisted. MN 27-20 lead.
#Gophers starting lineup tonight vs. Maine: Elijah Hawkins, Mike Mitchell Jr., Cam Christie, Joshua Ola-Joseph and Dawson Garcia.
#ICYMI: #Gophers leading scorer @Dawson23lee returns from injury to a team that improved in his absence. Several players grew in expanded roles, including @show_time_josh and @pharrelpayne. @StribSports @GopherMBB https://t.co/UdVP1t7dYp
#Gophers men's basketball vs. Maine game preview, broadcast info and analysis @StribSports @GopherMBB https://t.co/R86TWWKdZ9
Ben Johnson, Joshua Ola-Joseph and Elijah Hawkins talk about leading scorer Dawson Garcia being back after missing three games with an ankle injury. #Gophers @StribSports @GopherMBB https://t.co/O10V8sfGdZ