Dawson Garcia Leads Minnesota to 68-65 Win Over Central Michigan with Double-Double

On Monday night, the Minnesota Golden Gophers secured their fifth win of the season by edging out the Central Michigan Chippewas 68-65. The game was marked by a strong performance from Dawson Garcia, who posted a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Garcia was crucial in the final minutes, going 5 of 6 at the free-throw line to help Minnesota maintain their lead.

The game saw several key moments, including a 3-pointer by Garcia with 3:17 left, which put the Golden Gophers up by four points. However, Central Michigan’s Jakobi Heady responded with a 3-pointer of his own, bringing the Chippewas within one point. Lu’Cye Patterson’s 3-pointer extended Minnesota’s lead, but Heady’s layup kept Central Michigan close. Garcia’s consistent free-throw shooting in the final minute was pivotal, as he hit four straight to give Minnesota a six-point lead.

Despite a late surge by Central Michigan, with Kyler Vanderjagt hitting a free throw and Drew Barbee making a 3-pointer with 18 seconds left to pull within two points, the Golden Gophers managed to convert enough free throws to secure the win. Patterson contributed significantly with 19 points and three assists, hitting 4 of 9 from behind the arc. For Central Michigan, Ugnius Jarusevicius led with 17 points, all from 3-pointers, and Heady added a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

The win improves Minnesota’s record to 5-1, while Central Michigan drops to 3-3. The Golden Gophers struggled with free-throw shooting overall, converting just 10 of 27 attempts (58.8%).