MINNEAPOLIS— Dawson Garcia scored 30 points and Minnesota defeated Oral Roberts 80-57 on Wednesday night in the season opener for both.
A three-point play by Josh Jones got the Golden Eagles within single digits for the first time since the start of the first half — 38-29 — but Garcia and Parker Fox each scored five points to help the Gophers push their lead to 50-33. with 13 1/2 minutes to go.
Minnesota continued to extend its lead as Oral Roberts was unable to put together a rally. The Golden Eagles went the final 15 minutes without scoring consecutive baskets.
Fox scored 13 points and Lu’cye Patterson added 10 for Minnesota. It was Garcia’s fourth career game with more than 30 points.
Issac McBride had 15 points and Carlos Rosario 12 for Oral Roberts.
It took the Golden Gophers a few minutes in the first half to get on the board on a Garcia jumper, but over the next 10 minutes they rolled to a 29-8 lead. A three-point play by Rosario brought Oral Roberts within 10 points with two minutes remaining.
Garcia scored 18 points in the half and the Gophers led 38-24 at halftime.
Minnesota went 19-15 last season and it is looking for 20 wins for the first time in Ben Johnson’s four years as coach. The Gophers have increased their Big Ten win total in each of Johnson’s previous seasons.
