MINNEAPOLIS — In a decisive match, Mike Mitchell Jr. and Dawson Garcia each contributed 18 points, leading Minnesota to a 74-60 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday.

Mitchell demonstrated solid shooting, making 5 out of 13 attempts, including two 3-pointers, along with a strong free-throw performance of 6-of-7. The Golden Gophers improved their home record to an impressive 7-2, now sitting at 7-5 overall. Garcia also had an efficient outing, hitting 6 of 11 shots while converting all his free-throw attempts. He complemented his scoring by grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out five assists, marking his third double-double of the season. Additionally, teammates Femi Odukale and Lu’cye Patterson contributed 10 points each to the team’s total.

For the Knights, who now hold a record of 4-10, Ahmed Barba-Bey was their standout performer, hitting three 3-pointers and finishing with 15 points. This loss continued Fairleigh Dickinson’s struggle on the road, bringing their away record to 0-9. Jo’el Emanuel added 14 points and 11 rebounds, achieving his first double-double of the season and the second of his career. Terrence Brown also managed to score 10 points but struggled with his shooting, finishing the game with a 4-for-22 record and contributing six assists.

The game started slowly, with both teams failing to score until Patterson successfully landed a 3-pointer for Minnesota nearly three minutes in. Fairleigh Dickinson then seized an early lead, scoring the next seven points. However, the momentum shifted when Mitchell drained a 3-pointer followed by a jumper, which put the Golden Gophers ahead 14-11 at the 10:24 mark. The first half saw a competitive exchange with seven lead changes, culminating in a basket by Chidube Ekwommadu that put the Knights ahead 21-20 by halftime.

As the second half commenced, the teams exchanged leads multiple times early on. A pivotal turning point came when Odukale hit a jumper to tie the game; this sparked a 19-4 scoring run that was capped off by a 3-pointer from Brennan Rigsby, establishing Minnesota a commanding 45-30 lead with 10 minutes left. The Golden Gophers maintained control for the remainder of the game, securing the victory without further threat from their opponents.

Minnesota will next face Morgan State on December 29, while Fairleigh Dickinson has a break until they play against Boston College on Saturday.