Minus its top player, Minnesota knew it needed a team effort even more so Saturday.

Minnesota Gophers guard Elijah Hawkins (0) drives around Florida Gulf Coast Eagles guard Dallion Johnson (23) in the second half a NCAA men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. Minnesota beat Florida Gulf Coast, 77-57. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

It was particularly successful during a key second-half stretch. Or, more accurately, most of the final 30 minutes.

Five players scored during a 16-1 surge, and the Gophers pulled away to beat Florida Gulf Coast 77-57 at Williams Arena.

Joshua Ola-Joseph led the way with a career-high-tying 17 points, Mike Mitchell Jr. tied a season-high with 14, and Isaiah Ihnen had 13 off the bench for the 7-3 Gophers.

Cam Christie added 11 points, Elijah Hawkins had 11 assists for the second straight game, and Parker Fox had a season-best seven rebounds.

“Parker sparked us. I thought Mike sparked us. I thought Elijah was really good with 11 assists, two turnovers. Mike was great not only with his scoring but five assists, no turnovers,” said coach Ben Johnson.

The Gophers scored 26 points off 14 turnovers; the Eagles had just seven off seven Minnesota miscues.

“We talked about this needed to be a less than 10 turnover game and to have seven, and for those guys to really rise up and accept that challenge was, I think, a step in the right direction,” said Johnson, whose team had a 38-32 rebounding advantage. “Multiple guys were just active and around the ball. We’ve got to continue to make that a habit.”

Minnesota played without Dawson Garcia, the team’s leading scorer (18.2 points per game) and rebounder (7.4), who left Wednesday’s game with an ankle sprain.

Minnesota Gophers forward Parker Fox (23) blocks a shot from Florida Gulf Coast Eagles guard Franco Miller Jr. (12) in the second half a NCAA men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. Minnesota beat Florida Gulf Coast, 77-57. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

Being “ultra-smart,” Johnson said the center will likely miss Tuesday’s non-conference home game with IUPUI before the team has a nine-day break from games for final exams.

“Dawson’s our best player, so that just means that a lot of production is missing. But that also just means that everyone else has got to step up a little bit,” Ihnen said. “Our biggest strength is strength in numbers. We have a lot of talent on the team.”

Pharrel Payne started at center in Garcia’s absence. Still dealing with a foot injury, he had four points and six rebounds in almost 17 minutes, three days after a season-high 35 minutes against Nebraska where he scored 12 points, grabbed four rebounds and had two blocks.

The play of Fox also made it easier for the coach to rest Payne.

“Parker was in a groove, and these guys know I’m going to roll with guys that are hot,” Johnson said. “And I kept checking with Parker to make sure he was good, because 23 is the most minutes he has played. If guys got it going like that, I’m not gonna mess it up.”

Starting guard Braeden Carrington, dealing with a sore ankle, was questionable before the game but played just over 21 minutes.

Minnesota finished 45.6% from the field, despite missing 14 of its first 17 shots. The Gophers were 10 of 28 from deep, after a 1-for-8 start from outside the arc.

The Gophers led by four at the break before dominating in the second half for the second straight game. The Gophers outscored Nebraska 52-26 in the final 20 minutes Wednesday in a 76-65 home victory.

“We’ve got to find a way to put two halves together,” Johnson said.

Up 43-41, Christie hit a couple jumpers, Ola-Joseph had a layup, Mitchell scored five straight points off turnovers, Fox scored off a turnover. Ihnen and Christie then added baskets, the latter off a turnover for a 59-42 cushion.

Florida Gulf Coast (3-8), a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference, has mixed results in its two previous games with Division I foes this season. The Eagles lost by six at Indiana a month ago but were blown out by 37 at Cincinnati last Sunday.

Related Articles

Gophers men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson: ‘I know we are going to win’

Men’s basketball: Gophers star Dawson Garcia out with an ankle sprain

Without Dawson Garcia, Gophers stake big comeback to beat Nebraska

Paul Bunyan? Gophers backup center Jack Wilson has become a fan favorite at The Barn

Jamison Battle, Ohio State outduel Dawson Garcia, Gophers in Big Ten opener