Joshua Ola-Joseph scored a game-high 17 points and Minnesota pulled away for a 77-57 nonconference win over visiting Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Mike Mitchell Jr. finished with 14 points off the bench for Minnesota (7-3) which won its second straight game. Isaiah Ihnen contributed 13 points off the bench and Cam Christie scored 11.
Zach Anderson finished with 14 points to lead Florida Gulf Coast (3-8). Keeshawn Kellman tallied 12 points and Dallion Johnson finished with 11.
Minnesota’s defense and roster depth helped it secure the victory. The Golden Gophers had a 26-7 advantage in points off turnovers, and their bench outscored the Eagles’ reserves 35-18.
The Golden Gophers also outscored Florida Gulf Coast 40-24 in the second half.
A 12-0 run helped Minnesota take control. The Golden Gophers led 47-42 when Mitchell started the scoring binge with a jump shot off a pass from Elijah Hawkins.
Mitchell followed with a 3-pointer on the next possession. Parker Fox and Ihnen made back-to-back layups, then Mitchell punctuated the run with another 3-pointer that increased the advantage to 59-42 with 9:45 to go.
Hawkins gave Minnesota its largest lead with 4:16 remaining. He drained a 3-pointer off a pass from Mitchell to put the Golden Gophers ahead by 27.
Florida Gulf Coast proved to be competitive in the first half, trailing 37-33 at the break.
The Eagles opened the game with a 9-3 lead in the first four minutes. Kellman dunked off a pass from Cyrus Largie to finish off the fast start.
Florida Gulf Coast remained on top 24-18 with 6:48 left in the half. The Golden Gophers closed the first half on a 19-9 run to take the lead.
Minnesota played without its top scorer, Dawson Garcia, who missed his first game of the season because of a right ankle injury. Garcia sustained the injury in the Golden Gophers’ previous game against Nebraska.
–Field Level Media