Isaac Asuma led the Minnesota Golden Gophers to a decisive 76-62 victory over St. Thomas on Friday night, marking the first meeting between the two programs since 1934. Asuma contributed 20 points, including four of Minnesota’s 11 three-pointers, while Jaylen Crocker-Johnson anchored the frontcourt with a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double. The Gophers (2-0) controlled the pace from the opening tip, extending their dominance over Summit League opponents to a staggering 99-6 all-time record.
Golden Gophers dominate first matchup in 90 years with a historic 16-0 run
The game’s turning point arrived late in the first half when Asuma ignited a 16-0 run that swung the score to 33-16 in Minnesota’s favor. During that stretch, St. Thomas struggled mightily, going just 2-for-18 from the field over the final 11 minutes of the half. Crocker-Johnson capitalized on the momentum with a three-pointer in the opening minute of the second half, pushing the lead to 45-24 and effectively putting the game out of reach.
Although St. Thomas (1-1) managed to close within seven points twice in the second half, Minnesota responded with composure. The Gophers answered the first surge with a 9-0 run and followed up with five straight points after the second scare. Kyan Evans sealed the deal with a three-pointer to make it 72-60 with three minutes remaining. Nolan Groves added 15 points off the bench for Minnesota, while Jeremy Lorenz (13) and Hayden Tibbits (12) led the scoring effort for the St. Thomas Tommies.
Source: Yahoo Sports
