Garcia’s Electrifying 32 Points Propel Minnesota to Stunning 64-61 Comeback Victory Over UCLA

Dawson Garcia shone bright in the second half, scoring 27 of his 32 points, leading Minnesota to a thrilling 64-61 victory over UCLA on Tuesday night.

With just eight seconds left, Lu’Cye Patterson made a crucial layup, putting Minnesota ahead at 62-61. Garcia then nailed two free throws with less than a second remaining, sealing the win. UCLA’s last-second shot missed the mark.

UCLA’s Sebastian Mack, trying to make a last-ditch effort, was called for a charging foul with only 1.3 seconds left, ending their comeback hopes.

Patterson’s drive to the basket gave Minnesota its first lead at 60-59, capping an impressive 11-2 run for the Gophers.

Alongside Garcia, Mike Mitchell Jr. contributed 14 points, while Patterson added 11 for Minnesota, who improved their record to 14-12 overall and 6-9 in Big Ten play.

For UCLA, Mack scored 13 points off the bench, with Tyler Bilodeau and Kobe Johnson each contributing 12. The Bruins, with a record of 19-8 and 10-6 in conference play, took an early lead when Lazar Stefanovic’s jump shot put them ahead 18-7. Mack sparked a 9-0 run, pushing the Bruins’ lead to 29-12.

However, Minnesota fought back, scoring 11 points to trail 34-23 at halftime. After the break, Garcia and Mitchell hit back-to-back three-pointers, bringing Minnesota within five points. Mitchell’s layup narrowed the gap to just three with 15:17 remaining.

This win follows another comeback for Minnesota, who had previously overcome a 14-point deficit against USC. This time, they battled back from a 17-point hole against UCLA, scoring 41 points in the second half.

Next, Minnesota will face Penn State on Saturday, while UCLA prepares to take on Ohio State on Sunday.