Minnesota Gophers MBB Shocks #20 Michigan with Last Second Overtime Heave by Dawson Garcia
The Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball started one of the most difficult stretches of its season on Thursday night as +10 point underdogs at The Barn vs the No . 20 ranked Michigan Wolverines, who was 5-0 in the Big Ten, entering tonight’s Big Ten brawl.
Most fans and pundits (myself included) thought it would be a Gophers slaughter, much like Vegas did. But… as the saying goes… ‘that’s why they play the game’. Dawson Garcia, Mike Mitchell Jr and a ragtag group of Golden Gophers that was 0-5 in the Big Ten, had other plans.
When the overtime dust settled in Dinkytown, it was Minnesota celebrating an impossible 84-81 upset victory over the No. 20 ranked team in the country, ending their 5-game losing streak, to begin conference play.
Dawson Garcia’s miracle OT heave clinches Gophers upset over No. 20 Michigan
And better yet, it came on an overtime heave from near half court by the aforementioned Garcia, a hometown kid who turned down hundreds of thousands of dollars to stay home for his senior season. Lu’Cye Patterson took the inbound pass up the court, seconds after the Wolverines tied the game 81-81, dribbled all the way to the top of the key, where he flipped it back to Garcia for a long-distance miracle.
BALLGAME pic.twitter.com/LnZG2D3JoU
— Minnesota Men's Basketball (@GopherMBB) January 17, 2025
The Gophers’ hard-fought victory earned Ben Johnson — who is over half way through his fourth season as head coach — his first ever win over a ranked opponent… It took overtime but it is only the 3rd time all season that Minnesota has scored over 80 points in a game.
Senior transfer Lu’Cye Patterson had a big day for Minnesota Gophers too
Lu’Cye Patterson was probably the Minnesota Gophers co-MVP, next to Garcia. The senior transfer scored 22 points on 8-of-13 from the field, and grabbed 6 rebounds. But it was his play late in the game that continually took over late in the game. The senior guard also grabbed 6 rebounds in his 37 minutes of playing time.
Patterson with the CLUTCH triple! 🪣 @GopherMBB pic.twitter.com/gnIazcZi0y
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 17, 2025
Dawson Garcia, who hit the game-winner, scored 27 points, the most he has scored since opening night vs Oral Roberts, when he put up 30. The 5th year senior also added 12 rebounds, a season high, making for his 5th double-double of 2024-25. Mike Mitchell Jr, also score 20 points, shooting 4-of-12 from deep, and adding 4 assists.
Related: Minnesota Gophers Fans and Media Need to Stop Making Excuses for Ben Johnson
Will Ben Johnson be head coach of the Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team beyond 2024-25? Probably not, but tonight at the historic Williams Arena, none of that matters. This was a great win for Johnson’s program, and a night that all of these kids will remember forever.
Minnesota fans celebrate on the court after Dawson Garcia's insane buzzer beater 🎉🚨 pic.twitter.com/2KiGPWu3S1
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 17, 2025
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