Bobby Durkin silenced Fifth Third Arena on Monday night with the definitive shot of the early 2026-27 college basketball season. With Minnesota trailing by one point in the final seconds, the forward received a pinpoint pass from Isaac Asuma, took a single dribble, and released a wild buzzer-beater that secured a dramatic 63-61 victory over Cincinnati. The game-winner triggered an immediate eruption from the Minnesota bench, contrasting sharply with the stunned disbelief of the Cincinnati crowd, as the Gophers clinched their third straight win to open the campaign.
Gophers’ 3-0 start secured by a 1-of-6 shooter’s season-defining moment
The heroics were particularly striking given Durkin’s modest statistical output for the remainder of the contest. The buzzer-beater was only the second field goal he made all night, finishing with five points on 1-of-6 shooting from the three-point line. This performance marks a significant narrative shift for the Gophers, who struggled to a 15-18 record last season under head coach Niko Medved. Minnesota has not reached the NCAA tournament since 2019 and has recorded only one winning season in the interim, making this early-season momentum crucial for rebuilding confidence.
Durkin, who averaged 10.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in his first year with the Gophers after two seasons at Davidson, has now become the face of a revitalized program. While the long road to postseason contention remains, the Gophers enter the rest of the season with a perfect 3-0 record and a defining moment of resilience. This key early victory, fueled entirely by Durkin’s clutch execution, provides a foundational win that could define the trajectory of Minnesota’s season.
Source: Yahoo Sports
