Following the Gophers’ road win against the University of Oregon last Tuesday, they handed the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights their 16th loss of the season, an 80-61 win.
The Gophers played with only six guys throughout the game due to injuries. This has been an ongoing struggle for the Gophers this season and affected their standings, but not their pride.
“A lot of teams and people would have just folded […], but they just refuse to do that,” head coach Niko Medved said.
Standout performances
Senior Cade Tyson had a slow start, but that changed quickly in the second half when he kept hitting 3-pointers. He made 7-9 from beyond the arc and led the team with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
Tyson said his teammates did a great job getting him the ball and his shot felt great today.
Another player played a significant part in the Gophers’ victory, senior Langston Reynolds ended the game with 19 points. Reynolds built the momentum for the Gophers early in the game with his ability to drive to the basket, regardless of the Rutgers defense.
“He made so many plays for us tonight […] and that’s definitely how we want to play as a team,” Tyson said of Reynolds.
Game Changer
The Gophers’ offense started a little rocky, but soon took off when they went on a 9-0 run in the first half.
Sophomore Isaac Asuma hit a 3-pointer putting Williams Arena on their feet, and the Gophers ended the first half up by 13 points.
The Gophers continued their momentum into the second half with Junior Bobby Durkin and Tyson shooting 3-pointers with ease.
The Scarlet Knights did not have an answer for the Gophers’ scoring capabilities. The Scarlet Knights’ leading scorer of the season, junior Tariq Francis, ended the game with only 10 points.
“It was a big win and obviously it’s a big game for the standings,” said Reynolds.
What’s Next
The Gophers have four more games before they finish up their regular season. After their final game on March 7, they will start prepping for the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago.
The Gophers’ next game is their most difficult of the season, as they travel to Ann Arbor to face the No. 1 University of Michigan on Tuesday.
