MINNEAPOLIS — In a thrilling showdown on Thursday night, Dawson Garcia sank a dramatic 3-pointer from the vicinity of the center-court logo, leading Minnesota to an exciting 84-81 overtime win against the 20th-ranked Michigan Wolverines.
With just seven seconds left in regulation, Danny Wolf drove in for a layup that equalized the score. However, the Gophers managed to push the ball up the court swiftly, resulting in Lu’Cye Patterson setting up Garcia for the clutch shot from the “M” logo. This victory marked a significant milestone for coach Ben Johnson, as it was his first win against a ranked opponent.
Garcia, who contributed significantly to the Gophers’ triumph, finished the game with an impressive 27 points and 12 rebounds. His performance included two critical free throws that tied the game at 71 with just 7.4 seconds remaining, allowing the match to extend into overtime. Patterson played a pivotal role as well, scoring 22 points — 15 of which came during a strong second-half performance — while Mike Mitchell Jr. added another 20 points for the Gophers, who improved their record to 9-10 overall and 1-6 in Big Ten play.
For the Wolverines, who now hold a record of 13-4 and 5-1 in the conference, Wolf was the standout player with 23 points and 10 rebounds. He was supported by Vladislav Goldin, who netted 18 points along with eight rebounds, while Will Tschetter and Tre Donaldson added 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Key insights reveal that all four of Michigan’s losses have been narrowly decided, with a total margin of just eight points. In contrast, Minnesota showcased resilience coming from a 10-point deficit in the second half, a notable rebound from a previous season where they finished middle of the pack amid significant roster challenges.
A turning point occurred midway through the second half when Michigan was ahead 51-42. Patterson made his mark with a couple of free throws followed by a 3-pointer. After a missed dunk attempt by Goldin, Patterson scored again on a baseline jumper, and following a turnover from Michigan, Garcia’s transition basket brought the game to a 51-51 tie.
In terms of shooting efficiency, the Wolverines have maintained impressive performance from beyond the arc, boasting 11 three-pointers on 22 attempts. This marks their sixth consecutive game with more than ten 3-pointers.
Looking ahead, Michigan is set to host Northwestern on Sunday, while Minnesota will travel to face Iowa on Tuesday night.
