Golden Gophers Riding High After Top-10 Upset, Set to Host Maryland in Ski-U-Mah Strong Game
Back at Williams Arena for the second straight game, the Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s basketball team is looking to build on some serious momentum when they host the Maryland Terrapins on Sunday. But this isn’t just any game - it marks the inaugural Ski-U-Mah Strong matchup, a special initiative that connects Gopher players with young warriors from M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital. The emotion will be running high, and so will the stakes.
Gophers Finding Their Groove
Minnesota enters this one fresh off a statement win - a 76-73 upset over No. 10 Michigan State.
And this wasn’t a fluke or a lucky bounce at the buzzer. The Gophers led wire-to-wire, showing poise down the stretch as Isaac Asuma and Langston Reynolds iced it at the line.
That win marked Minnesota’s third over a ranked opponent this season and their first top-10 victory since knocking off then-No. 7 Michigan back in 2021.
What’s made this Gopher team so compelling lately is their resilience. Before toppling the Spartans, they had dropped two games in overtime, one on a buzzer-beater, and four of seven by fewer than four points. This group has been in the fight every night, and now they’re starting to break through.
Balanced Attack Fuels Minnesota
Against Michigan State, Minnesota’s starting five delivered a complete performance - every starter hit double figures. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson led the way with 22 points, marking his fifth 20-point outing of the season.
Reynolds came alive in the second half, scoring 12 of his 14 after the break. Cade Tyson chipped in 17, while Bobby Durkin added 13 and a team-high eight rebounds.
Asuma rounded it out with 10 points and clutch free throws in crunch time.
It was the first time since their game against Northwestern that all five starters scored in double digits, and the first time that’s happened against a ranked team since they faced then-No. 22 Indiana. That kind of offensive balance makes this Minnesota team tough to game-plan for - there’s no single player to key in on, because anyone can hurt you.
The Gophers also lit it up from deep, draining 10 threes - the seventh time this season they’ve hit double-digit triples, and the fourth time in Big Ten play. Just as important, they took care of the ball, committing only six turnovers - their second-lowest total of the season.
Honoring Warriors with Ski-U-Mah Strong
Sunday’s game carries more than just conference implications. It’s the debut of Ski-U-Mah Strong, a heartfelt initiative that pairs each Gopher player with a designated warrior from M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital. Originally started by head coach Niko Medved during his time at Colorado State, the program is now in its seventh year and making its Minnesota debut.
Each warrior and their family will be treated to a full game-day experience, including a pre-game brunch and a chalk talk with Coach Medved. They’ll stand with the team during the national anthem and be honored at halftime. In a powerful gesture, Gopher players will wear jerseys with their warrior’s name on the back - a symbol of solidarity and strength that goes far beyond basketball.
Scouting the Terrapins
Maryland rolls into Minneapolis with an 8-14 record and just one Big Ten win to its name. That lone conference victory came in a 96-73 blowout of Penn State, a game where David Coit exploded for 43 points. Since then, the Terrapins have faced a gauntlet of ranked teams - Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue - and are coming off an 82-62 loss to Ohio State.
The Terps have been without their leading scorer, Pharrel Payne, since mid-December. Before his injury, Payne was averaging 17.5 points per game and providing a steady offensive presence.
In his absence, Coit has stepped up, averaging 14.5 points and knocking down 56 threes. Darius Adams (11.8 ppg) and Solomon Washington (10.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg) round out a core that’s shown flashes but struggled to put it all together.
As a team, Maryland is averaging 72 points per game while allowing nearly 80. They’re shooting 40% from the field and 32% from beyond the arc, and they’ve had trouble keeping opponents off the scoreboard. Defensive lapses and inconsistent shooting have plagued them throughout conference play.
What’s Next
After Sunday’s emotional home stand, Minnesota hits the road for a west coast swing. First up is a matchup at Washington on Saturday, February 14.
That one tips at 8 p.m. CT and will air on Peacock and NBC Sports Network, with Mike Grimm and Al Nolen on the call for KFAN FM 100.3.
But first, all eyes are on Sunday at the Barn - a chance for the Gophers to keep their momentum rolling, honor some incredible young fighters, and continue writing one of the more inspiring stories in Big Ten basketball this season.