The Minnesota Gophers won their second consecutive game by double-digits, beating Rutgers 80-61 Saturday morning at The Barn. Minnesota started slow, going 0/5 (0/3 from three) to start the game and didn’t make a field goal in the first 5:28. But the shooting eventually caught fire and the Gophers took a 13-point halftime lead that they quickly extended to 20 in the second half and cruised to the win.
Cade Tyson led the way with 27 points, making 7/9 threes. Langston Reynolds and Bobby Durkin also
had big games. Reynolds had 13 at halftime, finishing with 19. Durkin was scoreless in the first half but scored all 12 of his points in the second half, going 4/5 from three.
THE STAT: The Gopher offense was highly efficient and was absolutely on fire from three, finishing with 15 made threes on 26 attempts. Making 57.7% from three is easily the best shooting game for Minnesota this season.
TURNING POINT: Tyson made a three-pointer at the 13:48 mark in the first half to give Minnesota the lead and they never looked back.
HOT: Tyson obviously was hot making his seven threes. But Bobby “Buckets” Durkin was also 4/5 from three.
NOT: Rutgers leading scorer, Tariq Francis, was 4/12 and finished with just 10 points, his lowest total in their last 11 games.
GOOD MOVE: The zone was highly effective for the Gophers again this afternoon. Rutgers offensive efficiency was just 0.793 in the first half and 1.07 for the game. The Gopher defense was locked in.
NOTABLE: Minnesota got back to their generous ways with 76.7% assist rate. It was 23 assists on 30 made baskets. Rutgers was 96% with 23 assists on 24 made field goals.
UP NEXT: Minnesota gets #1 Michigan on Tuesday. The game is going to be in Ann Arbor and will tip off at 7:30 on BTN.
