University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, October 25
12:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
North Dakota
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Close Out Exhibition Saturday vs. North Dakota
10/23/2025 2:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Stream: B1G+
Tip Time: 12:01 p.m.
U OF M STUDENTS GET IN FREE
• For the North Dakota exhibition, U of M students get into the game for free. Please check the link HERE.
STARTING FIVE
• The Golden Gopher men's basketball team hosts its second and final exhibition game Saturday when it the University of North Dakota comes to town. Previously scheduled for a 2 p.m., game, the Gophers and Fighting Hawks will now compete at noon due to the timing of the Gopher Football game.
• Saturday's match up marks the first time the Gophers and Fighting Hawks have faced each other since December of 2020. Minnesota won that contest, 76-67, on Dec. 4 at Williams Arena.
• Minnesota opened the season with an 80-54 exhibition win over North Dakota State on Thursday, Oct. 16 at Williams Arena. Cade Tyson opened his unofficial Gopher career with a 28-point performance when he hit six threes and went 9-of-13 from the field. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson and Isaac Asuma also scored in double digits with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Tyson's 28 points was the most scored by a Gopher in exhibition play since 2010. He connected all 28 of his points over 24 minutes of playing, including 11 within a minute and 54 seconds. All 13 available players saw action in the opening exhibition game. It also marked head coach Niko Medved's first unoffical game on the sidelines.
• Rob Vaihola was stellar on the glass for the Gophers in the NDSU exhibition. He nearly had a double-double when he had eight points and added 14 rebounds. In a large part due to Vaihola, the Gophers held a 46-31 edge on the glass over the Bison. Vaihola's career-high in rebounds is 19, which was set last year when he was with San Jose State.
• Like Minnesota, North Dakota has also played an exhibition game when it hosted Jamestown on Saturday, Oct. 18 and won, 82-61. UND had six players in double figures with 10 different players scoring over the course of the game.
ABOUT THE FIGHTING HAWKS
• North Dakota is led by Paul Sather, who is in his seventh season at the helm of the program. Prior to his time at UND, Sather coached at his alma mater, Northern State, where he led the Wolves to the NCAA Division II championship game three seasons. He also coached former Gopher Parker Fox while there. He owns a 355-266 coaching record over his 20-year career.
• UND returns one starter from last year's team in Eli King, who was named an All-Summit League Preseason Second Team selection. Last year for UND, King averaged 8.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists in 33 starts. The Hawks were picked to finish eighth in the Summit Preseason Poll.
• The Hawks return eight from last year's roster, while they welcome seven newcomers this season. UND lost nearly 80 percent of its scoring last year but returns King and adds Garrett Anderson. He played at both Central Washington and San Jose State prior to his UND stint. Overall the roster breakdown includes the following: three seniors, two juniors, four redshirt sophomores, one true sophomore, one redshirt freshman and four true freshman
ON THE DOCKET
• The Gophers host Gardner-Webb for its regular season home opener, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. The game is also streamed on B1G+. All regular season games, starting with Nov. 3 game, will be broadcast on the Gopher Radio Network with Mike Grimm and Al Nolen.
• Minnesota then hosts Alcorn State on Saturday, Nov. 8 for an 11 a.m. tip. The game will be broadcast on Peacock.
Stream: B1G+
Tip Time: 12:01 p.m.
U OF M STUDENTS GET IN FREE
• For the North Dakota exhibition, U of M students get into the game for free. Please check the link HERE.
STARTING FIVE
• The Golden Gopher men's basketball team hosts its second and final exhibition game Saturday when it the University of North Dakota comes to town. Previously scheduled for a 2 p.m., game, the Gophers and Fighting Hawks will now compete at noon due to the timing of the Gopher Football game.
• Saturday's match up marks the first time the Gophers and Fighting Hawks have faced each other since December of 2020. Minnesota won that contest, 76-67, on Dec. 4 at Williams Arena.
• Minnesota opened the season with an 80-54 exhibition win over North Dakota State on Thursday, Oct. 16 at Williams Arena. Cade Tyson opened his unofficial Gopher career with a 28-point performance when he hit six threes and went 9-of-13 from the field. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson and Isaac Asuma also scored in double digits with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Tyson's 28 points was the most scored by a Gopher in exhibition play since 2010. He connected all 28 of his points over 24 minutes of playing, including 11 within a minute and 54 seconds. All 13 available players saw action in the opening exhibition game. It also marked head coach Niko Medved's first unoffical game on the sidelines.
• Rob Vaihola was stellar on the glass for the Gophers in the NDSU exhibition. He nearly had a double-double when he had eight points and added 14 rebounds. In a large part due to Vaihola, the Gophers held a 46-31 edge on the glass over the Bison. Vaihola's career-high in rebounds is 19, which was set last year when he was with San Jose State.
• Like Minnesota, North Dakota has also played an exhibition game when it hosted Jamestown on Saturday, Oct. 18 and won, 82-61. UND had six players in double figures with 10 different players scoring over the course of the game.
ABOUT THE FIGHTING HAWKS
• North Dakota is led by Paul Sather, who is in his seventh season at the helm of the program. Prior to his time at UND, Sather coached at his alma mater, Northern State, where he led the Wolves to the NCAA Division II championship game three seasons. He also coached former Gopher Parker Fox while there. He owns a 355-266 coaching record over his 20-year career.
• UND returns one starter from last year's team in Eli King, who was named an All-Summit League Preseason Second Team selection. Last year for UND, King averaged 8.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists in 33 starts. The Hawks were picked to finish eighth in the Summit Preseason Poll.
• The Hawks return eight from last year's roster, while they welcome seven newcomers this season. UND lost nearly 80 percent of its scoring last year but returns King and adds Garrett Anderson. He played at both Central Washington and San Jose State prior to his UND stint. Overall the roster breakdown includes the following: three seniors, two juniors, four redshirt sophomores, one true sophomore, one redshirt freshman and four true freshman
ON THE DOCKET
• The Gophers host Gardner-Webb for its regular season home opener, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. The game is also streamed on B1G+. All regular season games, starting with Nov. 3 game, will be broadcast on the Gopher Radio Network with Mike Grimm and Al Nolen.
• Minnesota then hosts Alcorn State on Saturday, Nov. 8 for an 11 a.m. tip. The game will be broadcast on Peacock.
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Win Exhibition Finale
Wednesday, October 29
Highlights: Gophers 82, North Dakota 62
Saturday, October 25
Cinematic Recap: Exhibition Opener
Monday, October 20
Highlights: Gophers 80, NDSU 54
Thursday, October 16