University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, October 15
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
0-0,0-0Big Ten
72
vs
52
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp){kind=icon}
Omaha
0-0,0-0Summit League
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | 16 | 36 | 52 |
| Minnesota | 36 | 36 | 72 |
Photo by: Kelly Lynn
Gophers Open 2026-27 Season With a Win over Omaha
10/15/2026 9:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Head coach Niko Medved's Gophers had no trouble with Omaha in their exhibition opener Thursday evening, as they made 12 3-pointers and led by as many as 31 points in a 72-52 win against the Mavs at The Barn by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
Malick Kordel, a 7-foot-2, 275-pound transfer from defending national champion Michigan, came off the bench to lead Minnesota with 13 points. Kordel was 5 of 5 from the field, and he added four rebounds, three assists, and a blocked shot in 19 minutes. Bobby Durkin, who led the Gophers with 80 3-pointers last season, made 3 of 5 from behind the arc and finished with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals, and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson had 10 points and eight rebounds.
Omaha, picked to finish fourth in the Summit League, committed 10 turnovers and shot 1 of 15 from 3-point range in the first half, as Minnesota led 36-16. Minnesota made 6 of 16 first-half 3-pointers, including two by Durkin who led the Gophers with eight points at the break. Kordel and Isaac Asuma each had six points, and Kyan Evans had five points, four steals, and three assists at the break.
The lead grew to 31 points in the second half after a 13-0 run, keyed by four points from Crocker-Johnson and threes from Durkin and Nolen Anderson. In all, 14 players saw time for the Gophers, with 10 players scoring points. Minnesota made 26 of 57 (.456) field goals, including 12 of 36 (.333) 3-points, and was 8 of 11 (.727) at the line.
Evans, who played for Medved and was roommates with Crocker-Johnson at Colorado State before spending last season at North Carolina, had a great debut in Maroon and Gold with eight points, seven assists, four steals, and four rebounds. Asuma finished with eight points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals, Nolan Groves made a pair of treys and had seven points, and Kai Shinholster had five points.
Cahmai Crosby led the Mavs with 10 points, Deke Thompson had nine, and Isaac Ondekane added eight points and seven rebounds.
Minnesota plays its final exhibition versus Creighton next Friday, Oct. 23, at CHI Health Center Omaha. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m., and the game will be streamed on Creighton Athletics' YouTube Channel, as well as broadcast on Omaha's 1620 The Zone.
Malick Kordel, a 7-foot-2, 275-pound transfer from defending national champion Michigan, came off the bench to lead Minnesota with 13 points. Kordel was 5 of 5 from the field, and he added four rebounds, three assists, and a blocked shot in 19 minutes. Bobby Durkin, who led the Gophers with 80 3-pointers last season, made 3 of 5 from behind the arc and finished with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals, and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson had 10 points and eight rebounds.
Omaha, picked to finish fourth in the Summit League, committed 10 turnovers and shot 1 of 15 from 3-point range in the first half, as Minnesota led 36-16. Minnesota made 6 of 16 first-half 3-pointers, including two by Durkin who led the Gophers with eight points at the break. Kordel and Isaac Asuma each had six points, and Kyan Evans had five points, four steals, and three assists at the break.
The lead grew to 31 points in the second half after a 13-0 run, keyed by four points from Crocker-Johnson and threes from Durkin and Nolen Anderson. In all, 14 players saw time for the Gophers, with 10 players scoring points. Minnesota made 26 of 57 (.456) field goals, including 12 of 36 (.333) 3-points, and was 8 of 11 (.727) at the line.
Evans, who played for Medved and was roommates with Crocker-Johnson at Colorado State before spending last season at North Carolina, had a great debut in Maroon and Gold with eight points, seven assists, four steals, and four rebounds. Asuma finished with eight points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals, Nolan Groves made a pair of treys and had seven points, and Kai Shinholster had five points.
Cahmai Crosby led the Mavs with 10 points, Deke Thompson had nine, and Isaac Ondekane added eight points and seven rebounds.
Minnesota plays its final exhibition versus Creighton next Friday, Oct. 23, at CHI Health Center Omaha. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m., and the game will be streamed on Creighton Athletics' YouTube Channel, as well as broadcast on Omaha's 1620 The Zone.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballTeam Stats
OMA
MINN
FG%
.351
.456
3FG%
.179
.333
FT%
.500
.727
RB
39
35
TO
16
12
STL
8
11
Game Leaders
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Friday, October 16
Wednesday, October 14
Wednesday, October 14
Tuesday, October 13