MINNEAPOLIS — In an electrifying season opener, Dawson Garcia recorded an impressive 30 points, leading Minnesota to a convincing 80-57 victory over Oral Roberts on Wednesday night.

The game saw the Golden Eagles, through a three-point play by Josh Jones, close the gap to single digits at 38-29 for the first time since the early stages of the first half. However, Minnesota’s Garcia and Parker Fox quickly surged the Gophers ahead, each contributing five points, which pushed the score to 50-33 with just over 13 minutes left on the clock.

As the contest progressed, Minnesota maintained their lead, leaving Oral Roberts struggling to form an effective comeback. Over the last 15 minutes of gameplay, the Golden Eagles were unable to score consecutive baskets, further sealing their fate. Fox added 13 points while Lu’cye Patterson chipped in with 10 for Minnesota. This game marked Garcia’s fourth career outing with over 30 points.

For Oral Roberts, Issac McBride led the scoring with 15 points, accompanied by Carlos Rosario who contributed 12. The first half began with the Golden Gophers taking a few minutes to find their rhythm, scoring their initial points from a jumper by Garcia. However, they quickly seized control of the game, racing to a dominant 29-8 lead within the next ten minutes. Rosario’s three-point play brought the Golden Eagles within 10 points with only two minutes remaining in the half.

Garcia closed the half with an impressive 18 points, leaving Minnesota ahead 38-24 as they headed into the locker rooms. The Gophers wrapped up last season with a record of 19-15 and are eager to achieve 20 victories this year, attempting to do so for the first time under head coach Ben Johnson, who has guided the team to increase their Big Ten win total each year since taking the helm.