Ducks Fall to Minnesota

Saturday, January 25

Minneapolis, MN

1:00 PM

University of Oregon

16-4,5-4Big Ten

Minnesota

11-9,3-6Big Ten

Oregon

Minnesota

01/25/25 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Oregon fought back from an 18 point deficit to take a brief lead, but a 31-point outing from Dawson Garcia gave Minnesota a 77-69 win.

Brandon Angel finished with a season-high 18 points, while Jackson Shelstad and TJ Bamba each added 15 for the Ducks, but a 44-point first half and clutch plays down the stretch were the difference for the Golden Gophers. Minnesota finished 56.7 percent from the field and forced 12 Oregon turnovers, scoring 10 points off turnovers. The Ducks had chances late, keeping within striking distance, but fouls and turnovers lifted the Golden Gophers to victory.

How It Happened: Oregon started sluggish and got behind big early after Minnesota scored on each of their first 10 possessions. The Golden Gophers hit their first three three-pointers to build a 15-5 lead at the first timeout, pushing the lead to 27-11 at the under-12-minute timeout. The Ducks answered with a nine-zero run led by Keeshawn Barthelemy and TJ Bamba, cutting the deficit to seven.

Brandon Angel went on a run midway through the half, hitting four-of-five shots for 15 points, giving the Ducks some life on the offensive side. UO stepped up on defense and scored on four consecutive possessions to close the half, making it a 44-38 Minnesota lead at the break.

The Ducks opened the second half scoring eight unanswered points to take their first lead of the game. Bamba's and-one layup made it 46-44, Ducks. The Golden Gophers answered with a six-zero run to regain the lead at the first media timeout of the half. The two teams traded baskets over the next four minutes and Minnesota maintained their four-point lead.

Oregon won the next four minutes of action to cut the Minnesota lead to two. Bamba's aggressive drives got the Ducks much-needed points in the middle of the half, as he reached 13 points with eight minutes to play. Bamba After a big three from Dawson Garcia gave him 23 points on the night, Minnesota went up 63-58 with five minutes left.

Garcia scored the next four points for Minnesota, as the Ducks trailed by six with three minutes left. Jadrian Tracey made two free throws at the two-minute mark. Oregon stole the inbound, but missed the three to give Minnesota the ball and a chance at free throws. The Gophers missed the second, Shelstad drove up the floor and converted an and-one to make it a 70-68, Minnesota. The Ducks had chances late but bad fouls and poor execution proved too much to overcome.

Up Next: The Ducks play at UCLA on Thursday (7:30 p.m., FS1).

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