Minnesota backups help lift Golden Gophers to 33-point rout of New Orleans
MINNEAPOLIS -- — Reserve Cam Christie scored 20 points, one of three players off the bench to score in double figures, and Minnesota beat New Orleans 97-64 on Thursday night.
Joining Christie were fellow reserves Pharrel Payne, who scored 17 points, and Mike Mitchell Jr., who scored 14 points. Starters Dawson Garcia scored 15 points and Joshua Ola-Joseph scored 10 points for the Golden Gophers (5-2), who led for all but 1:21 of the contest. Minnesota's bench scored 62 points.
Khaleb Wilson-Rouse scored 19 points and Jordan Johnson 17 points for the Privateers (3-4).
Ola-Joseph's layup put Minnesota ahead 7-6 and they never trailed again. Up 19-16, Christie made a 3-pointer at the 10:54 mark to start a 12-3 run and the lead remained double figures for the duration. Mitchell's layup with 1:51 before intermission marked Minnesota's first 20-plus point lead and the Golden Gophers went to the break up 50-32.
The game marked the second all-time meeting between the two teams, with the first in 2013 when the Golden Gophers won 80-65. Minnesota is 7-0 all-time against the Southland Conference.
Minnesota opens the Big Ten Conference season when it travels to Ohio State on Sunday. ------ Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here ------ AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Game Information
- Referees:
- Bill Ek
- Earl Walton
- Robert Riley
2024-25 Southland Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| McNeese | 8-0 | - | 14-5 |
| Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 6-2 | 2 | 13-7 |
| Nicholls | 5-3 | 3 | 11-8 |
| SE Louisiana | 5-3 | 3 | 11-8 |
| Lamar | 5-3 | 3 | 10-9 |
| Northwestern State | 5-3 | 3 | 8-10 |
| Houston Christian | 5-3 | 3 | 8-11 |
| UT Rio Grande Valley | 4-4 | 4 | 12-7 |
| Incarnate Word | 2-6 | 6 | 9-10 |
| New Orleans | 2-6 | 6 | 4-15 |
| Stephen F. Austin | 1-7 | 7 | 8-11 |
| East Texas A&M | 0-8 | 8 | 2-17 |
2024-25 Big Ten Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 7-0 | - | 16-2 |
| Purdue | 7-1 | 0.5 | 15-4 |
| Michigan | 6-1 | 1 | 14-4 |
| Wisconsin | 5-2 | 2 | 15-3 |
| Indiana | 5-3 | 2.5 | 14-5 |
| Illinois | 5-3 | 2.5 | 13-5 |
| Oregon | 4-3 | 3 | 15-3 |
| Maryland | 4-4 | 3.5 | 14-5 |
| UCLA | 3-4 | 4 | 12-6 |
| Iowa | 3-4 | 4 | 12-6 |
| USC | 3-4 | 4 | 11-7 |
| Penn State | 3-5 | 4.5 | 13-6 |
| Rutgers | 3-5 | 4.5 | 10-9 |
| Nebraska | 2-5 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Northwestern | 2-5 | 5 | 11-7 |
| Ohio State | 2-5 | 5 | 10-8 |
| Washington | 1-6 | 6 | 10-8 |
| Minnesota | 1-6 | 6 | 9-9 |
Men's College Basketball News
