Epic Comeback: Dawson Garcia Leads Gophers Men’s Basketball to Stunning Victory at UCLA

Last time the Minnesota Gophers played UCLA in Los Angeles, John Wooden was coaching the Bruins, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went by Lew Alcindor. That was a long time ago!

Fast forward to this week, and it was a different scene on the court. The Gophers faced off against UCLA in their first-ever Big Ten showdown. It was an exciting matchup, showcasing two teams with different standings. Despite a rocky start, the Gophers fought back from a 17-point deficit in the first half to secure an impressive 64-61 victory at Pauley Pavilion.

Gophers coach Ben Johnson expressed his admiration for UCLA after the game. “I have a ton of respect for that program,” he said. “We knew we were going to have to play beyond our best to come in here and have a chance.”

Dawson Garcia was a key player in the win. He scored 27 of his 32 points in the second half, making two crucial free throws just before the final buzzer. This victory allowed the Gophers to finish their West Coast trip undefeated, joining Michigan as the only Big Ten teams to win at both UCLA and USC this season.

Garcia shared his excitement after the match. “It’s a great emotion just to share it with guys who put everything into it,” he said. He shot 7-for-10 from the field and went 11-for-12 at the foul line in the second half. “I’m super happy for my teammates, the coaches, the university, and just blessed to be in this position.”

Source link