Minnesota will go for its third victory in a row when it visits San Francisco for its first road game in a nonconference matchup Sunday night.
The Golden Gophers (4-1) are coming off back-to-back wins over South Carolina Upstate and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Their only loss this season has come against Missouri.
San Francisco (4-2) also has earned two straight victories. The Dons, whose losses have come against Boise State and Grand Canyon, are coming off wins against DePaul and Purdue Fort Wayne.
Dawson Garcia leads Minnesota with 18.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Five others are averaging at least eight points a game, including Joshua Ola-Joseph (9.8), Cam Christie (9.8) and Isaiah Ihnen (9.4).
Christie has earned playing time at point guard despite his status as a true freshman. Elijah Hawkins and Mike Mitchell Jr. also have proved capable at point guard, giving coach Ben Johnson plenty of options.
“Hopefully going into the (Big Ten) season you have Elijah, Mike and Cam, who are confident getting us into the offense or being the primary ball handler,” Johnson said.
Jonathan Mogbo leads San Francisco with 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per contest. He also is averaging 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocked shots.
Marcus Williams (14.0 points per game) and Mike Sharavjamts (11.0) also are averaging in double digits for the Dons. Sharavjamts leads the team with 4.5 assists per game.
San Francisco coach Chris Gerlufsen continues to adapt to many new faces on his roster.
“Having seven new guys, we need some more time together to grow, to get to know each other and to adjust to the system,” Gerlufsen said. “I’m still learning our new guys as well.”
For Minnesota, Garcia needs only 13 more points to reach 1,000 for his career. He scored 351 points in his first college season with Marquette, 144 points with North Carolina and 492 points with Minnesota heading into Sunday’s game.
–Field Level Media
