Men's basketball: Gophers leading scorer Dawson Garcia out with ankle injury

He'll miss Saturday's nonconference matchup against Florida Gulf Coast.

The Gophers men’s basketball team will be without leading scorer Dawson Garcia when it takes on Florida Gulf Coast in a nonconference game Saturday, Minnesota coach Ben Johnson told reporters on Friday.

Garcia injured his ankle during the first half of Wednesday’s 76-65 home victory over Nebraska. He later tried to return in the second half before sitting the remainder of the game.

Johnson said the injury is not a high ankle sprain but just a straight ankle sprain, good news for Minnesota considering the longer recovery time required for high ankle sprains.

“Now it’s just a matter of time and how quickly he can heal from it,” Johnson told reporters.

Dawson Garcia / Credit: Matt Krohn, USA Today

Garcia averages 18.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, leading the Gophers in both categories.

Despite losing Garcia on Wednesday, Minnesota managed to overcome a 15-point halftime deficit and rally for its first Big Ten victory of the season. The Gophers will hope to overcome Garcia’s absence once again when they take on the Eagles at 11 a.m. Saturday. 

Gophers destroy Nebraska despite digging big hole, losing Garcia