The Gophers basketball team fell to 0-2 in conference play Sunday with a 61-56 loss at No. 16 Michigan.

In many ways, this loss was similar to Minnesota’s conference-opener, which it lost 81-72 to Illinois in double overtime.

For the second straight game, the Gophers proved they could compete with a top Big Ten team on the road. They proved they could rally from a deficit in the game’s final minutes to put themselves in a winning position.

With three minutes left and Minnesota trailing 55-50, Julian Welch hit two consecutive 3-pointers to cut the Wolverines’ lead to 57-56. The Gophers then forced a miss and took a timeout with a chance to take their first lead of the second half.

But they were held scoreless the rest of the game, with their last three possessions resulting in a shot clock violation and two missed 3-pointers.

Welch and Rodney Williams each had 11 points to lead Minnesota. Freshman Trey Burke led Michigan with 27 points on 8-for-11 shooting.

Both teams shot below 31 percent from the floor in the first half, which ended with Michigan leading 23-19. During one 7-minute stretch, the Gophers shot 0-for-9 and failed to score a point.

Yet they fought back to a 35-35 tie in the second half and kept the game within seven points the rest of the way.