Minnesota, Ohio State Basketball Teams Raise ALS Awareness in Big Ten Showdown

The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team will host Ohio State on Monday, January 6, 2025, in a Big Ten matchup that doubles as an ALS awareness initiative. Both teams will wear Hoops4ALS shooting shirts, while coaching staffs will sport ALS awareness pins during the game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.

The game, set to tip off at 8:10 p.m. CST, will be broadcast on FS1, with Cory Provus and Nick Bahe providing commentary. Minnesota enters the contest with an 8-6 overall record and 0-3 in Big Ten play, while Ohio State stands at 9-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

This marks the 150th meeting between the two programs, with Ohio State holding a 93-56 series advantage. The Gophers won their last encounter 88-79 on February 22, 2024, at Williams Arena. Minnesota’s Dawson Garcia scored a career-high 24 points in that victory, while teammates contributed significantly to the win.

Garcia continues to be a key player for Minnesota, ranking fourth in the Big Ten with an average of 19.1 points per game. The junior forward recently surpassed Archie Clark on Minnesota’s all-time scoring list, now sitting at 26th with 1,211 points as a Golden Gopher.

Ohio State comes into the game looking to bounce back from a 69-62 loss to Michigan State. The Buckeyes are led by Bruce Thornton, who averages 16.9 points per game, and feature three other players scoring in double figures. The team ranks second in the Big Ten in three-point shooting percentage at 38.4%.

Minnesota’s defense has been a bright spot this season, ranking third in the Big Ten by allowing just 65.1 points per game. The Gophers also lead the conference in blocks, averaging 5.4 per game.

Following this matchup, Minnesota will travel to Wisconsin for a January 10 game, while Ohio State continues its Big Ten schedule. The ALS awareness initiative highlights the basketball programs’ commitment to supporting important causes beyond the court.