Gophers rally from 14-point halftime deficit to beat Penn State

Dawson Garcia scored 20 points to lead the U.

If there’s one thing the Gophers men’s basketball team has shown in three years under coach Ben Johnson it's that it’ll battle. No matter the opponent, no matter the score, the team will fight to the bitter end.

Saturday night’s game in State College, Pa., was a perfect encapsulation of the Gophers’ fight, grit and determination. Minnesota rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Penn State 83-74 and snap its four-game losing streak.

Up 72-71 with just over a minute remaining, Dawson Garcia drove to the basket, made a layup and was fouled on the attempt. He missed the ensuing free throw, but Josh Ola-Joseph grabbed the offensive rebound, made the putback attempt and was fouled on the shot. He hit the free throw to put the U up 77-71.

Unlike in Tuesday’s game against Wisconsin, the Gophers made their free throws down the stretch. With the Nittany Lions fouling while down late, Garcia hit a pair to make it a 79-72 game, Cam Christie hit another pair to make it 81-72 and Mike Mitchell Jr. closed out the victory by hitting on another couple from the line.

Minnesota outscored Penn State 52-29 in the second half.

The Gophers (13-7, 4-5 Big Ten) rallied from the 14-point halftime deficit by opening the second half on a 17-2 run and taking a lead as large as seven points after the break. Everyone was getting involved offensively for the U — Christie and Mitchell were aggressive driving to the hoop and Garcia was a force in the paint.

Four players finished in double figures for Minnesota, led by Garcia’s 20 points.

Everything was going wrong for the Gophers in the first half. Despite getting out to an early lead, the U let Penn State (9-11, 3-6) go on a 22-2 run, including a 15-0 run over 4 minutes, 1 second in the half, to take momentum and the lead into the second half.

But the Gophers came out with a furious push in the second half, once again showing their ability to fight from behind. And this time, it produced the desired result.