The Minnesota Gophers men's basketball team welcomed back leading scorer Dawson Garcia after a three-game absence due to an ankle injury. The Gophers, with a starting lineup of Elijah Hawkins, Mike Mitchell Jr., Cam Christie, Joshua Ola-Joseph, and Garcia, displayed strong ball movement against Maine, which translated into a 27-20 lead with the next seven field goals being assisted. By halftime, the Gophers had a 41-28 advantage, and they finished with an 80-62 victory, marking their fifth straight win by 10+ points. Hawkins, who is tied for the Division I lead with 7.6 assists per game, and Mitchell Jr. were key contributors. Coach Ben Johnson spoke about Garcia's impactful return and the team's overcoming of a slow start. With the nonconference season wrapped up, the Gophers shifted focus to Big Ten play, where their backcourt's experience was expected to be a significant factor.
#Gophers really needed Mike Mitchell Jr. to get going. He led them in scoring the last two games with 38 points combined and eight threes. He's scored five straight tonight to have a team-high seven points. Mich still up 21-20
It's a Michigan basketball game, so there are points to be had. Back and forth game with very few stops thus far. https://t.co/psiFkjwOlQ
Tschetter doesn't waste time making an impact against his home state #Gophers with a three-pointer to take back the lead for Michigan 17-15
Stewartville, Minn. native Will Tschetter enters the game for the first time for the #Wolverines with #Gophers ahead 15-12 under 13 mins left.
E from way downtown! He has 5 points and 2 assists early tonight! https://t.co/N8UXj0oB8a
Braeden Carrington checked in with Pharrel Payne as first players off the bench for #Gophers
NCAA's assist leader Elijah Hawkins with two assists early. #Gophers trail 9-8, but four players have already scored tonight. Difference is Michigan ahead 4-0 in second-chance points and one three-pointer to none so far.
Michigan up 9-8 at the U16. Pretty balanced start for both teams. Four starters for both teams have a basket a piece.
Dawson Garcia with the first basket tonight for the #Gophers, but Michigan opens with 7-4 lead.
The Big Ten men's basketball night cap starts NOW exclusively on @peacock. @umichbball | @GopherMBB https://t.co/MoFkjfsHcZ
Starters tonight for the #Gophers at Michigan: Elijah Hawkins, Mike Mitchell Jr., Cam Christie, Joshua Ola-Joseph and Dawson Garcia.
#ICYMI: Is #Gophers backcourt Big Ten ready? Elijah Hawkins, Mike Mitchell Jr. lead the way for arguably the most underrated backcourt in the league @StribSports @GopherMBB @B1GMBBall https://t.co/jt5XGlcndy
Minnesota at Michigan Men’s College Basketball 9 pm ET Peacock @JacCollinsworth (pbp) & @stephenbardo (analyst) #CBB #MBB
Two more B1G hoops games tonight: Penn State (7-6, 1-1) at MSU (8-5, 0-2) at 6 p.m. and Minnesota (10-3, 1-1) at Michigan (6-7, 1-1) at 8 p.m. Both games can be seen on Peacock.
#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
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
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 PG Elijah Hawkins is tied for D-I lead with 7.6 assists per game after having 48 assists and just 8 turnovers in last four games combined. Let's see if he can keep up that pace tonight
#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