University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, November 12
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
4-0,0-0Big Ten
91
vs
61
Southern
0-5,0-0SWAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern U. | 26 | 35 | 61 |
| Minnesota | 46 | 45 | 91 |
11/12/2026 9:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 12) -- Isaac Asuma led five players in double-figures with a career-high 23 points, and Minnesota (4-0) made 33 of 55 (.600) field goals, as the Gophers remained undefeated with a 91-61 win against Southern University at The Barn by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
Asuma, who scored a career-high 20 points in last week's 76-62 win over St. Thomas, made 9 of 14 (.643) field goals, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range to set a career high for the second time this season. He added 6 assists and 5 rebounds for the Gophers, who opened a season at 4-0 for the first time since winning their first seven games in 2021-22. Bobby Durkin finished with 15 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds, Kyan Evans had 10 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds, Malick Kordel had 10 points and 5 rebounds, and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson reached 1,000 career points by finishing with 10 points and 5 boards.
As a team, the Gophers shot 60 percent in a game for the first time since making 30 of 50 in a home win versus Rutgers on Feb. 21, 2026. Minnesota was 9 of 15 (.600) from 3-point range in the first half and finished the game at 13 of 27 (.481), and was 12 of 18 (.667) at the free throw line. The Gophers had a 40-21 rebounding advantage, outscored the Jaguars 36-24 in the paint, and had 28 assists on their 33 made field goals (84.8 percent).
Daniel Dormu and Justin Page each had 12 points to lead Southern, a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), while Lionel Larvadain III added 10 points.
Nolan Groves added 8 points for the Gophers, with Grayson Grove finishing with seven points and a team-high six rebounds. Michigan transfer Winters Grady hit a 3-pointer for his first points at Minnesota, and freshman Nolen Anderson of Wayzata scored his first collegiate points with a three-point play to close out the scoring.
Minnesota led 8-4 early behind 3-pointers from Crocker-Johnson and Asuma, but a 6-0 run by the Jaguars gave them a brief 10-8 lead. The Gophers responded with a 14-0 run, with Kordel scoring six points and Asuma adding his second 3-pointer. Minnesota extended its run to 19-2 for a 27-12 with 7:37 remaining in the half.
A layup and 3-pointer by Larvadain and a three-point play from Dormu cut Minnesota's lead to 27-20 with 6:06 left in the half. But Minnesota went on its second extended run of the first half, this time 19-4, with Asuma hitting his third 3-pointer and scoring on a layup, Groves' knocking down his second trey, Evans adding a 3-pointer and a layup, and Durkin making two 3-pointers to help build a 46-26 halftime lead.
The Gophers made 17 of 26 (.654) first-half field goals, including 9 of 15 (.600) 3-point attempts, with Asuma leading the way with 14 points and 5 assists at the half. Evans added 9 points, and Durkin, Kordel, and Groves each had 6 points. Larvadain and Dormu led the Jaguars with 7 points each.
Grove, Durkin, and Asuma made layups, and Kordel added his fourth dunk to stretch the lead to 54-29 with 16:30 remaining. Crocker-Johnson scored five points during a 13-3 run that extended the lead to 67-36 with 12:48 left
The lead remained steady between 25 and 30 points until a 6-0 Southern run trimmed the margin to 74-51 with 4:53 left. Head coach Niko Medved played 13 players, with 10 scoring points in the win.
Minnesota remains home to wrap up this two-game homestand against Western Illinois. The Gophers and Leathernecks are set for a 7:00 p.m. CST tipoff on Monday, Nov. 16, on Big Ten Network.
Asuma, who scored a career-high 20 points in last week's 76-62 win over St. Thomas, made 9 of 14 (.643) field goals, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range to set a career high for the second time this season. He added 6 assists and 5 rebounds for the Gophers, who opened a season at 4-0 for the first time since winning their first seven games in 2021-22. Bobby Durkin finished with 15 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds, Kyan Evans had 10 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds, Malick Kordel had 10 points and 5 rebounds, and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson reached 1,000 career points by finishing with 10 points and 5 boards.
As a team, the Gophers shot 60 percent in a game for the first time since making 30 of 50 in a home win versus Rutgers on Feb. 21, 2026. Minnesota was 9 of 15 (.600) from 3-point range in the first half and finished the game at 13 of 27 (.481), and was 12 of 18 (.667) at the free throw line. The Gophers had a 40-21 rebounding advantage, outscored the Jaguars 36-24 in the paint, and had 28 assists on their 33 made field goals (84.8 percent).
Daniel Dormu and Justin Page each had 12 points to lead Southern, a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), while Lionel Larvadain III added 10 points.
Nolan Groves added 8 points for the Gophers, with Grayson Grove finishing with seven points and a team-high six rebounds. Michigan transfer Winters Grady hit a 3-pointer for his first points at Minnesota, and freshman Nolen Anderson of Wayzata scored his first collegiate points with a three-point play to close out the scoring.
Minnesota led 8-4 early behind 3-pointers from Crocker-Johnson and Asuma, but a 6-0 run by the Jaguars gave them a brief 10-8 lead. The Gophers responded with a 14-0 run, with Kordel scoring six points and Asuma adding his second 3-pointer. Minnesota extended its run to 19-2 for a 27-12 with 7:37 remaining in the half.
A layup and 3-pointer by Larvadain and a three-point play from Dormu cut Minnesota's lead to 27-20 with 6:06 left in the half. But Minnesota went on its second extended run of the first half, this time 19-4, with Asuma hitting his third 3-pointer and scoring on a layup, Groves' knocking down his second trey, Evans adding a 3-pointer and a layup, and Durkin making two 3-pointers to help build a 46-26 halftime lead.
The Gophers made 17 of 26 (.654) first-half field goals, including 9 of 15 (.600) 3-point attempts, with Asuma leading the way with 14 points and 5 assists at the half. Evans added 9 points, and Durkin, Kordel, and Groves each had 6 points. Larvadain and Dormu led the Jaguars with 7 points each.
Grove, Durkin, and Asuma made layups, and Kordel added his fourth dunk to stretch the lead to 54-29 with 16:30 remaining. Crocker-Johnson scored five points during a 13-3 run that extended the lead to 67-36 with 12:48 left
The lead remained steady between 25 and 30 points until a 6-0 Southern run trimmed the margin to 74-51 with 4:53 left. Head coach Niko Medved played 13 players, with 10 scoring points in the win.
Minnesota remains home to wrap up this two-game homestand against Western Illinois. The Gophers and Leathernecks are set for a 7:00 p.m. CST tipoff on Monday, Nov. 16, on Big Ten Network.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's BasketballTeam Stats
SU
MINN
FG%
.462
.600
3FG%
.385
.481
FT%
.444
.667
RB
21
40
TO
12
17
STL
9
5
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
9
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Thursday, November 12
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