Bethune-Cookman Wildcats @ Minnesota Golden Gophers
Dawson Garcia's big double-double leads fast-starting Minnesota's 80-60 win over Bethune-Cookman
MINNEAPOLIS -- — Dawson Garcia had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Minnesota rode a 46-point first half to a season-opening 80-60 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Monday night.
Garcia was 4-of-10 shooting but made 14 free throws in 16 attempts. He also had six assists. Braeden Carrington scored 13 points and Elijah Hawkins added 10 for the Golden Gophers.
A 16-2 run helped Minnesota build a 26-11 lead through the first 9 1/2 minutes and the Gophers went on to lead 46-22 at the break.
Jakobi Heady led the Tigers with 17 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Zion Harmon and Damani McEntire scored 11 points each.
Garcia, a 6-foot-11 junior, is Minnesota's leading returning scorer (15.3 ppg in 2022-23) on a roster with eight newcomers — four transfers and four freshmen. Transfer Parker Fox, who scored seven points, saw his first action with the Golden Gophers after missing the past two seasons with knee injuries.
------ Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here ------ AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Game Information
Minneapolis, MN
Referee:Bill Ek
Referee:Rob Kueneman
Referee:Courtney Green
2025-26 Standings
| Southwestern Athletic Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethune-Cookman | 14-4 | - | 17-15 |
| Southern | 11-7 | 3 | 17-17 |
| Florida A&M | 11-7 | 3 | 15-16 |
| Alabama A&M | 10-8 | 4 | 18-15 |
| Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 10-8 | 4 | 13-19 |
| Texas Southern | 10-8 | 4 | 12-18 |
| Jackson State | 10-8 | 4 | 12-21 |
| Prairie View A&M | 9-9 | 5 | 19-18 |
| Grambling | 7-11 | 7 | 14-19 |
| Alabama State | 7-11 | 7 | 10-22 |
| Alcorn State | 7-11 | 7 | 9-23 |
| Mississippi Valley State | 2-16 | 12 | 3-30 |
| Big Ten Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 19-1 | - | 37-3 |
| Nebraska | 15-5 | 4 | 28-7 |
| Michigan State | 15-5 | 4 | 27-8 |
| Illinois | 15-5 | 4 | 28-9 |
| Wisconsin | 14-6 | 5 | 24-11 |
| Purdue | 13-7 | 6 | 30-9 |
| UCLA | 13-7 | 6 | 24-12 |
| Ohio State | 12-8 | 7 | 21-13 |
| Iowa | 10-10 | 9 | 24-13 |
| Indiana | 9-11 | 10 | 18-14 |
| Minnesota | 8-12 | 11 | 15-18 |
| USC | 7-13 | 12 | 18-14 |
| Washington | 7-13 | 12 | 16-17 |
| Rutgers | 6-14 | 13 | 14-20 |
| Northwestern | 5-15 | 14 | 15-19 |
| Oregon | 5-15 | 14 | 12-20 |
| Maryland | 4-16 | 15 | 12-21 |
| Penn State | 3-17 | 16 | 12-20 |
Men's College Basketball News
2026 NBA draft combine: Top prospects, highlights, more
9h
Peterson details goals going from college to the NBA
2d
Dybantsa says he's the most versatile player in the draft
2d
