Los Angeles – In a thrilling matchup, Dawson Garcia erupted for 32 points, scoring 27 of them in the second half, leading Minnesota to a stunning 64-61 victory over UCLA on Tuesday night.

With only eight seconds remaining, Lu’Cye Patterson made a key layup that gave Minnesota a crucial lead at 62-61. Garcia then cemented the win, scoring two free throws with just 0.9 seconds left on the clock, while UCLA’s last-second shot fell well short.

Just before the final moments, Sebastian Mack of UCLA was called for a charge while attempting to penetrate the lane, further complicating the Bruins’ chances.

Minnesota’s breakthrough came when Patterson drove the lane, putting the team ahead 60-59 with 1:02 left, completing an impressive 11-2 scoring run.

In addition to Garcia’s standout performance, Mike Mitchell Jr. contributed 14 points and Patterson added 11 for Minnesota, who improved to 14-12 overall and 6-9 in the Big Ten.

For UCLA, reserve player Mack led the way with 13 points, while Tyler Bilodeau and Kobe Johnson each chipped in 12 points. The Bruins now hold a 19-8 record and sit at 10-6 in conference play.

UCLA established an early lead of 18-7 thanks to Lazar Stefanovic’s jumper midway through the first half. Mack was pivotal during a dominating 9-0 run that widened their advantage to 29-12. However, Minnesota fought back, ending the first half strong with an 11-5 run to narrow the gap to 34-23.

The second half saw a shift as Garcia and Mitchell sunk back-to-back three-pointers, pulling Minnesota closer. Mitchell later made a layup, bringing the Gophers within three points at 36-33 with 15:17 remaining.

Much like their previous game against USC, where they overcame a 14-point deficit, Minnesota once again displayed remarkable resilience. They managed to erase a 17-point disadvantage against UCLA, trailing for over 37 minutes before breaking away in the closing moments, scoring 41 points after halftime.

Looking ahead, Minnesota is scheduled to host Penn State on Saturday, while UCLA will face off against Ohio State on Sunday.