Men’s basketball: Gophers fight but fall 69-51 to No. 23 Mississippi State

MINNEAPOLIS — The College of Minnesota males’s basketball workforce wanted to indicate enchancment after a dispirited blowout loss to Michigan within the Large Ten house opener Thursday. Minnesota obtained it on Sunday night time at Williams Area, particularly with a stronger defensive effort, however nonetheless fell 69-51 to Twenty third-ranked Mississippi State.

Minnesota (4-6) reduce the Bulldogs result in 52-43 with 9 minutes left, but light late and has now misplaced 5 straight video games, equaling final yr’s worst skid. Mississippi State remained undefeated (9-0).

Mississippi State got here into Sunday’s recreation permitting the fewest factors per recreation within the nation (49.6) and was second-best in offensive rebounding per recreation (16.0). Minnesota had 15 turnovers and three shot-clock violations, and averted a fourth with Ta’Lon Cooper’s buzzer-beating banked 3-pointer.

The Gophers have struggled towards among the greatest massive males within the nation within the earlier two video games, and 6-foot-11 ahead Tolu Smith introduced a problem in a 3rd straight recreation. Purdue’s Zach Edey had a career-high 31 factors and 22 rebounds in a 89-70 win over Minnesota final Sunday, and Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson had 19 factors in a 90-75 win on Thursday.

Smith, who averaged a team-high 16.3 factors per recreation, continued to have a giant affect Sunday. He and Dawson Garcia every had a game-high 20 factors.

The Gophers’ main scorer this season, Jamison Battle, had solely three photographs in 14 first-half minutes till foul hassle set in within the remaining 4 minutes of the half. Battle then drew his third and fourth fouls within the opening 22 seconds of the second half and needed to sit for eight minutes. He didn’t make a shot till three minutes left within the recreation and tried solely seven whole photographs.

Cooper appeared to sprain his proper ankle with seven minutes left within the recreation however returned with 4 minutes left. He had six factors and 4 assists.

The Gophers lacked defensive rules within the blowout loss to Michigan on Thursday, however began significantly better Sunday. The Gophers had 5 blocks within the first half and compelled Mississippi State to shoot 38% from the sphere.

Minnesota led 24-22 with three minutes left, however Mississippi State went on a 10-0 run to take a 32-24 lead on the break.

Gophers coach Ben Johnson gave Taurus Samuels his first begin of the season rather than freshman Jaden Henley, who began the opening 9 video games of the season.

Minnesota will play Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Wednesday at The Barn.