Slow start dooms Minnesota in loss to North Texas

To say the Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team started slow Wednesday is an understatement. Playing without starting point guard Mike Mitchell Jr., Minnesota couldn’t get anything going offensively early against North Texas.

Even with Dawson Garcia, a game-time decision because of a groin injury, on the floor, the Gophers shot 14.3% from the field — they made three total field goals — and trailed the Mean Green, 23-12, at intermission. Garcia scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds, but the Gophers (2-1) struggled offensively all night in a 54-51 loss to North Texas (3-0) at Williams Arena.



Without Mitchell and sophomore Kadyn Betts, coach Ben Johnson turned to newcomers in senior transfers Lu’Cye Patterson and Femi Odukale, and freshman Isaac Asuma to run the floor — and it was tough skating early. The Gophers didn’t score until Parker Fox made one of two free throws at 16:23, went more than 11 minutes without a field goal and didn’t manage their 10th point until there was 4:33 left in the half. But Minnesota was tough on the other end and that kept them within spitting distance.

That paid off quickly in the second half when a 7-0 run to start the frame put them right back in it, 23-21. From there, it was a slog — missed shots, clock violations, missed free throws, turnovers and technical fouls with neither team able to break free. Brennan Rigsby finally gave the Gophers a lead, 43-42, when he nailed a 3-pointer from the right corner on a feed by Asuma.

But North Texas scored the next eight points on 3-pointers by Latrell Jossell and Rondell Walker, and a layup by Jonathan Massie. The Gophers had a chance to pull within a point or tie with just more than a minute left but turned the ball over instead. After a timeout, the Gophers fouled Brenen Lorient, and he missed the front end of a 1 and 1.

The Gophers rebounded, and on the other end Patterson threw up a desperate 3-pointer that skimmed over the rim with about 30 seconds left. But Garcia pulled down the rebound and potted a layup to pull Minnesota to within 52-51. North Texas beat Minnesota’s press (barely) and seemed to have a layup to go up three before Asuma hustled back and fouled Walker with 20.

5 seconds left. Tryan Mason then missed the front end of another 1 and 1. Patterson missed another 3-pointer, and Massie rebounded and called time out with three seconds left.

Fans wanted a traveling call on Massie. So, did some of the Gophers players. But it didn’t happen.

Lorient’s dunk off a long inbounds pass sealed it. Power forward Frank Mitchell played his first regular-season game for the Gophers. The Canisius transfer missed the first two because of a dislocated right shoulder suffered in an exhibition game against Hamline.

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High school seniors Kai Shinholster and Jacob Ross have officially joined the Gophers’ 2025-26 roster and will join the team for summer practice, Johnson announced. Shinholster is a 6-foot-5 guard from Philadelphia and a three-star recruit, according to Rivals and 247Sports. Ross, a 6-6 guard from Bristow, Va.

, is a four-star recruit with Rivals..