GAME INFORMATION
MINNESOTA VS. #10 MICHIGAN STATE
Tip Time: 6:01 p.m., Williams Arena, Minneapolis
SERIES INFORMATION*
All-Time Series: 130th Meeting (MSU Leads, 71-58)
Last Meeting: Jan. 28, 2025 (MSU W, 73-51)
Medved vs. MSU: First Meeting
MN vs. Big Ten Teams: 824-958
* excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• After a two-game hiatus, the Golden Gopher men’s basketball returns to Williams Arena to face the No. 10 Michigan State Spartans on Wednesday night. Minnesota is 58-71 all-time against MSU, dating back to 1943.
• Minnesota is coming off a 77-75 loss at Penn State on Sunday. Langston Reynolds had 18 points, Cade Tyson had 17 and Bobby Durkin made four three-pointers (16 points) as Minnesota (10-12, 3-8) rallied from a 13-point deficit to tie the score in the final minute, but Penn State scored on a layup with 0:01 remaining to escape with a 77-75 win at the Bryce Jordan Center.
• Bobby Durkin has had his best point production of the Big Ten season in the past three games. Against then-No. 7 Nebraska (Jan. 24), Durkin went 6-of-13 for 16 points. He bettered that total at Wisconsin (Jan. 28) when he scored 17 points in the first half, including a season-high five three pointers en route to 20 points and 7-of-8 from the field. He also scored 16 points vs. PSU (2.1). On the season, Durkin averages 9.3 points and shoots 43 percent.
• On assist percentage for the season, the Gophers currently lead the entire nation at 73 percent. Minnesota had 25 assists off 28 field goals vs. Northwestern, 20 assists on 22 makes vs. FDU, 26 assists on 30 FGs vs. Campbell, 27 assists on 28 field goals vs. Texas Southern and 18 assists on 19 makes vs. Chicago State. The second-highest in the nation is Cornell at 69.6 percent, followed by Michigan State (67.2).
• Cade Tyson averages 19.9 points per game, which ranks third in the Big Ten. Tyson, who returned to the Minnesota lineup Sunday after a one-game hiatus, scored 11 of his 17 points from the line. It marked the sixth time this year Tyson has 10-plus points from the charity stripe. He also accomplished this at Northwestern in league action. Tyson ranks first in the Big Ten in free throws (132) and second in attempts (163).
SHARING THE LOVE
• In the loss to Penn State, it marked the 10th time this season in which four or more Gophers have scored double-digit points in a game. Minnesota’s first game came against Alcorn State, followed by Indiana, Texas Southern, Campbell, Northwestern, Iowa, Ohio State and now PSU. Minnesota is 6-4 when four or more Gophers score in double digits.
ALL-TIME SERIES
• Minnesota is looking for its first win over Michigan State since 2024, which was also the last time the Gophers defeated MSU at Williams Arena. The Spartans defeated Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament that season and won both contests in the 2024-25 season.
• The Gophers fell to MSU 73-51 in East Lansing, Mich., for their last match-up on Jan. 28, 2025. The Spartans held a 36-16 lead at the half en route to the win. Minnesota opened the Big Ten season last year, hosting MSU on Dec. 4, 2024. The Spartans opened the contest with a 42-30 lead at half as MSU won, 90-72.
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
• Coming in this week as the 10th-ranked team in the nation, Michigan State holds a 19-3 overall record and 9-2 in the B1G, which is tied for second overall. The Spartans are coming off their second conference loss of the season, falling to Michigan, 83-71, last Friday.
• Michigan State has four averaging double figures, led by guard Jeremy Fears Jr. He leads the team with 14.9 points, ranks second in the B1G in assists (193), and free throw percentage (89.5). Jaxon Kohler averages 13.1 points and ranks second in the B1G in rebounds per game (9.1) and double-doubles (10). Coen Carr averages 11.4 points, while Carson Cooper rounds out the top four scoring with 10.4. He also ranks eighth in the league with 160 rebounds and 7.3 per game.
• As a team, Michigan State averages 79.1 points, while allowing just 64.4. That ranks second-best in the conference. The Spartans also average 41.2 rebounds per game, second-best in the league. They average 4.1 blocks per game and are first in fast-break points.
BIG TEN RIVALRY SERIES
The Big Ten Basketball Rivalry Series presented by Venmo is in full swing, including Wednesday night’s Minnesota vs. Michigan State game. The game is a part of a 34-game series, involving 17 men’s and 17 women’s games that involves all 18 Big Ten schools. The Gopher men’s game vs. the Spartans will be featured, while the Gopher women’s game is against Nebraska on Feb. 12.
ON THE DOCKET
• The Gophers are back at Williams Arena on Super Bowl Sunday when it hosts Maryland, Feb. 8. Tip time is 1 p.m.
SKI-U-STRONG SET FOR FEB. 8
• The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team is launching “Ski U Mah Strong,” an initiative honoring designated warriors through M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital. This group will be recognized during the Sunday Feb. 8 game against Maryland.
• The initiative is now in its seventh year under head coach Niko Medved, first beginning at Colorado State. Each player is connected with an individual warrior. Each will receive a full game day experience this week vs. Maryland. Individuals and their families are invited to a pre-game brunch and a special chalk talk with Coach Medved. The warriors will also be invited onto the court for the national anthem as they, the players, and coaches stand in solidarity. The group will also be recognized at halftime.
• The Gophers will wear jerseys with the names of their designated warriors on the back, instead of their standard names, as part of the initiative.
(info and stock photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
