A horrendous first half of basketball was too much for the Gophers men's basketball team to overcome as it was handed its first loss of the season to North Texas 54-51 Wednesday night at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. There was plenty to take away from an uninspiring effort.

Center Dawson Garcia played despite a groin injury, and starting guard Mike Mitchell Jr. and four others were absent for the Gophers.

To say the Gophers men’s basketball team started slow Wednesday is an understatement. Playing without starting point guard Mike Mitchell Jr., Minnesota couldn’t get anything going offensively

Minnesota came out of the locker room with some urgency. After making 5-of-6 field goals, the Gophers cut North Texas' lead to 30-27 and reignited some energy into the home crowd at The Barn. They surpassed their first-half scoring total just over five minutes into the second half.

To say the Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team started slow Wednesday is an understatement. Playing without starting point guard Mike Mitchell Jr., Minnesota couldn’t get anything going offensively early against North Texas.

The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team has non-conference games this week against North Texas and Yale, and could be without as many as three starters. Gophers’ guard Mike Mitchell Jr., one of four returners from last year,

Dawson Garcia continues his hot start to the 2024-25 season, but the rest of the Gopher roster struggled to contribute on offense as the North Texas Mean Green came into The Barn and beat Minnesota 54-51.