Gophers Dominate Alcorn State 95-50 in Record-Breaking Victory

UPDATE: The Gophers men’s basketball team delivered an explosive performance, dismantling Alcorn State with a staggering 95-50 victory at Williams Arena on Saturday morning. Minnesota’s defense was nothing short of relentless, allowing no buckets until the clock showed 12:10 remaining in the first half, propelling them to an early 17-0 lead.

This decisive win marks the Gophers’ largest margin of victory since a 46-point blowout against Northern Michigan in 1976. Head coach Niko Medved emphasized the importance of being ready for the 11 a.m. tipoff, and his players responded exceptionally. “Guys’ mentality was awesome,” Medved stated. “We were really locked in defensively… our defense led to some early offense.”

The Gophers capitalized on Alcorn State’s struggles, scoring 27 points off 16 turnovers, with 10 points coming during their blistering start. This performance follows a similar trend from their season opener against Gardner-Webb, where they didn’t allow a field goal until 11:17 remained in the first half, ultimately winning 87-60.

Alcorn State, now 0-3 and ranked 328th out of 365 teams nationally, faced a daunting challenge. In contrast, Minnesota’s record improves to 2-0, but tougher competition is on the horizon with a matchup against Missouri, who is also 2-0, scheduled for this Wednesday.

Throughout the game, Jaylen Crocker-Johnson shone brightly, achieving his second consecutive double-double with 15 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Medved praised Crocker-Johnson’s defensive prowess, particularly for holding Alcorn State’s leading scorer, Nick Woodward, scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting. “It was coming out and getting stops,” Crocker-Johnson commented. “We emphasized it all week.”

Point guard Chansey Willis, who was previously scoreless in the opener, led the first half with 11 points and finished with 13 points. Meanwhile, Cade Tyson contributed significantly, scoring 21 points, including 10 of 11 from the free-throw line.

Despite the victory, the Gophers faced challenges with injuries, as BJ Omot and Grayson Grove missed the game, limiting the team to only nine players suited up. Isaac Asuma played through a back injury, highlighting the team’s resilience.

With momentum building, all eyes will be on Minnesota as they prepare to face Missouri. The Gophers’ impressive starts signal a promising season ahead, but only time will tell if they can maintain this level of performance against tougher opponents. This game is a clear statement: Minnesota basketball is back, and they are ready to compete at a high level.