Gophers Keep Rolling at Home, Dominate Campbell with Unselfish Offensive Clinic
Minnesota continues to make Williams Arena a fortress. With a commanding 78-50 win over Campbell, the Gophers improved to 7-5 on the season and a perfect 7-0 on their home court. But this wasn’t just a win-it was a showcase of what happens when a team fully buys into the system and plays for each other.
The Gophers came into the night leading the nation in assist rate, and they didn’t disappoint. Of their 30 made field goals, 26 were assisted-a staggering 87% clip that speaks volumes about their offensive identity.
All five starters hit double figures, and the ball movement was crisp, decisive, and relentless. When a team is sharing the ball like that, it’s not just efficient-it’s contagious.
“We had every reason to come out flat tonight,” head coach Niko Medved said postgame, referencing the post-finals fatigue and looming winter break. “But our guys came in with the right mindset. They practiced the right way all week, and it showed from the opening tip.”
He wasn’t exaggerating. Minnesota stormed out to a 12-0 lead before Campbell could even get on the board, and the Gophers never looked back.
By the midpoint of the first half, the lead had ballooned to 23-8. At halftime, it was 41-22, and the second half was more of the same-Minnesota dictating the pace, moving the ball, and getting high-quality looks.
Cade Tyson Continues to Shine
Cade Tyson, the Big Ten’s leading scorer, played like it. He poured in 24 points and added five assists, continuing his stellar start to the season.
He’s now hitting 42.2% of his threes on the year-an elite mark for a high-volume scorer. Tyson’s ability to both score and facilitate has become a cornerstone of the Gophers’ offense.
Freshman guard Isaac Asuma had his best game of the season, dropping a season-high 15 points and leading the team with six assists. His comfort in the offense is growing, and his ability to create for others was on full display.
Off the bench, Grayson Grove stuffed the stat sheet with four assists, five rebounds, two blocks, and four steals. He was everywhere. His energy and versatility gave Minnesota a real spark, and his passing-especially from the high post-added another layer to the Gophers’ offensive flow.
Three other Gophers chipped in with three assists each, reinforcing just how balanced and selfless this offense has become.
Shooting Surge Continues
Minnesota shot a scorching 58% from the field and hit 10 of their 20 three-point attempts. That’s a far cry from where they were just a month ago, when they were shooting 24.5% from beyond the arc. Now, they’re up to 34% on the season, and the confidence is clearly building.
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson added 14 points, including two more threes on four attempts. After a cold start to the year from deep, he’s now up to 34.6% from long range. Bobby Durkin knocked down three of his four triples to finish with 11 points, while Langston Reynolds was nearly perfect from the field, scoring 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting.
This kind of offensive balance, combined with unselfishness and improving perimeter shooting, makes Minnesota a tough team to guard. When the ball has energy, as Medved likes to say, the whole team feeds off it-and that’s exactly what we’re seeing.
Defense Holds Steady
While the offense was humming, the Gophers didn’t forget about the other end of the floor. They held Campbell to just 35% shooting and limited their leading scorer, Jeremiah Johnson, to 17 points off the bench. No other Camel reached double figures.
Minnesota’s length and activity bothered Campbell all night. Whether it was Grove’s rim protection, active hands in passing lanes, or strong closeouts on shooters, the Gophers made life difficult for a team that had been playing solid basketball coming into the matchup.
Looking Ahead
With finals behind them and a break in the schedule ahead, Minnesota now gets eight days off before returning to action on December 29th against FDU. That game, also at Williams Arena, gives the Gophers a chance to close out the non-conference slate on a high note.
FDU comes in at 3-8, and while the record might not jump off the page, the Gophers know better than to overlook anyone. If they continue to share the ball, defend with energy, and shoot it the way they have over the last few weeks, they’ll be in a strong position heading into Big Ten play.
This team is starting to click-and they’re doing it the right way.