The second-most important number to the Gophers men’s basketball team on Thursday was their turnover total.

After the all-important final score — a 97-64 win over New Orleans — Minnesota limited its turnovers to only two in the first half and 12 total at Williams Arena.

That’s an improvement going into the Big Ten opener at Ohio State on Sunday.

The Gophers committed a season-high 18 turnovers in the 76-58 loss to San Francisco last Sunday, with head coach Ben Johnson lamenting how he felt players were too “casual” with the ball.

On the season, Minnesota was averaging 14.7 turnovers per game, tied for 303rd in the nation, while New Orleans was second in the nation in turnovers forced at 19.7.

Minnesota (5-2) was a 12-point favorite and was 150 places higher than New Orleans (3-4) in the KenPom rankings (284-134).

Freshman Cam Christie had a team-high 20 points to lead four players in double figures.

New Orleans guard Jordan Johnson came into the game fourth in the nation at 23.3 points per game, but a combination of U defenders limited him to six points in the first half and 17 points total.

Gophers center Pharrel Payne appears to be rounding into better health after having a minutes limit due to a lingering foot injury. He had 17 points and has eclipsed 15 points in consecutive games for the first time in his college career.

The highlight of the game didn’t count. Parker Fox soared for a one-hand outback dunk. The U bench went nuts, but Fox was called for an offensive foul. Johnson and fans at The Barn did not agree with the call.

The Gophers led 50-32 at the half, with Garcia at a team-high 11 points. Christie had nine points and Josh Ola-Joseph eight in the opening 20 minutes.

The Privateers took a 6-3 lead after two minutes, but Minnesota erased that and did not trail the rest of the way.

The Gophers’ cruise control allowed them to sub in walk-on Erick Reader and Jackson Purcell in the final minute.

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