In a scintillating Big Ten battle that required an extra session to decide, the Minnesota Golden Gophers stunned the 20th-ranked Michigan Wolverines 84-81 on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Dawson Garcia from near midcourt. The miraculous make, launched from the edge of the iconic “M” logo, capped a wild overtime period and delivered Minnesota’s first conference win of the season in unforgettable fashion.
Trailing by two in the closing seconds of overtime after Michigan’s Danny Wolf tied the game with a layup, the Gophers found themselves in a scramble situation when Lu’Cye Patterson bobbled the inbounds pass. But Patterson regrouped and found Garcia trailing the play just as he crossed halfcourt. The 6-foot-11 senior took one rhythm dribble, squared up from 40 feet, and uncorked a high-arcing jumper that splashed through the net as time expired, igniting a raucous celebration as the home crowd stormed the court.
Garcia’s Heroics Headline Gritty Team Effort
Garcia’s incredible shot served as the exclamation point on a marathon performance that saw him finish with 27 points and 12 rebounds while battling Michigan’s imposing frontcourt tandem of 7-footers Wolf and Vladislav Goldin. The rugged big man did most of his work on the interior but stepped out to hit the biggest shot of his collegiate career.
Initially, I didn’t know how far back I was. But then I looked down and saw I was at the logo!
Dawson Garcia on his game-winning shot
Patterson also shined with 19 points and 8 assists, including the game-winning dime to Garcia. His aggressive drives collapsed the Michigan defense and opened up scoring opportunities for his teammates. Jaden Henley and Joshua Ola-Joseph chipped in 15 and 13 respectively to round out a balanced scoring effort.
Gophers Show Grit and Resiliency
Minnesota trailed by as many as 11 in the second half but never wavered. They clawed back to force overtime on a pair of Garcia free throws with 7.4 seconds left in regulation. In the extra session, they overcame Wolf’s tying layup in the waning moments to steal the win on their final possession.
The Gophers’ ability to execute in late-game situations has been inconsistent this season amid a 9-10 start. But their poise and determination shined through in the clutch. Second-year head coach Ben Johnson hopes this type of gritty win can galvanize his team going forward.
It was kind of a broken play, but the guys read it great. They know the concepts we’re trying to run, even when things break down. I’m really proud of how they stuck together and fought until the end.
Ben Johnson on his team’s execution
What It Means
Knocking off a ranked conference opponent could prove to be a pivotal turning point for a Minnesota squad still searching for its footing in the rugged Big Ten. The manner in which they won – rallying from behind, making clutch plays, and hitting a buzzer-beater – should provide a huge confidence boost going forward.
For Michigan, it’s a brutal loss that drops them to 13-6 overall and 4-3 in league play. The Wolverines led most of the way but couldn’t slam the door, continuing a concerning trend of failing to finish off opponents. They’ll need to regroup quickly with a trip to No. 18 Indiana looming on Sunday.
- Key Stat: The Gophers shot 52% in the second half and overtime after shooting just 38% in the first half
- Up Next: Minnesota visits Penn State on Wednesday; Michigan travels to Indiana on Sunday
