Willis, Battle lead Minnesota past Jacksonville 55-44
MINNEAPOLIS -- — Payton Willis scored 17 points and Jamison Battle 14 as Minnesota strung together a 12-2 run over six minutes late in the game to defeat Jacksonville 55-44 on Wednesday night.
Minnesota (5-0) led by 17 early in the second half before Jacksonville (2-2) cut that to 43-35 with just under eight minutes to play. E.J. Stephens drained a 3-pointer and Willis followed from beyond the arc as the Golden Gophers put up nine unanswered points over the next five minutes, building an 18-point lead with 1:34 remaining.
Sean Sutherlin added 10 points for Minnesota on 5-for-6 shooting. Stephens finished with seven points
Tommy Bruner led the Dolphins with 11 points and hit their lone 3-pointer with 42 seconds left to keep alive Jacksonville's streak of 204 games with at least one 3-pointer. Jacksonville had been 0-for-14 from deep to that point.
Rod Brown added eight points and nine rebounds as the Dolphins won the boards, 46-28.
The outcome breaks Minnesota's string of scoring at least 70 points in its first four games.
Two first-year head coaches squared off with Minnesota’s Ben Johnson and Jacksonville’s Jordan Mincy.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Rob Kueneman
- Brian McNutt
- Michael Kitts
2023-24 ASUN Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Eastern Kentucky | 12-4 | - | 17-14 |
Stetson | 11-5 | 1 | 22-13 |
Lipscomb | 11-5 | 1 | 20-12 |
Austin Peay | 10-6 | 2 | 19-16 |
North Florida | 9-7 | 3 | 16-16 |
North Alabama | 8-8 | 4 | 15-17 |
Florida Gulf Coast | 8-8 | 4 | 14-18 |
Queens University | 7-9 | 5 | 14-19 |
Kennesaw State | 6-10 | 6 | 15-16 |
Jacksonville | 5-11 | 7 | 16-17 |
Central Arkansas | 5-11 | 7 | 9-23 |
Bellarmine | 4-12 | 8 | 8-23 |
2023-24 Big Ten Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Purdue | 17-3 | - | 34-5 |
Illinois | 14-6 | 3 | 29-9 |
Nebraska | 12-8 | 5 | 23-11 |
Northwestern | 12-8 | 5 | 22-12 |
Wisconsin | 11-9 | 6 | 22-14 |
Indiana | 10-10 | 7 | 19-14 |
Michigan State | 10-10 | 7 | 20-15 |
Iowa | 10-10 | 7 | 19-15 |
Ohio State | 9-11 | 8 | 22-14 |
Minnesota | 9-11 | 8 | 19-15 |
Penn State | 9-11 | 8 | 16-17 |
Maryland | 7-13 | 10 | 16-17 |
Rutgers | 7-13 | 10 | 15-17 |
Michigan | 3-17 | 14 | 8-24 |