The Gophers get a familiar boost from Dawson Garcia, who beats Bethune-Cookman in men’s basketball

The Spartans (6-2) are unranked this season, but last week they beat No. 12 North Carolina 94-91 in overtime. Their only losses this season come against No. 1 Kansas and Memphis.

Minnesota missed its two best opportunities to improve its record in non-conference play, with losses to Wichita State and Wake Forest in Orlando, including a 68-66 overtime loss to the Shockers on Thursday.

For the first time since the 2022-23 season, Garcia scored double-digit points in consecutive games on Sunday; He had just 12 points total on 4-for-19 shooting against Wake Forest and Wichita State.

The 6-11-year-old from Savage was a candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year before the Florida trip, when he averaged nearly 23 points per game. The competition wasn’t nearly as fierce on Sunday, but Garcia saw the shots fall again.

Garcia scored 13 of his 23 points in the second half, including five rebounds, four assists and two blocks. He shot 8 of 15 from the field and 4 of 4 from the foul line.

Senior guards Mike Mitchell Jr. (ankle) and Tyler Cochran (foot) were out Sunday for the Gophers. Mitchell missed his seventh straight game since suffering a high ankle sprain against Nebraska Omaha on Nov. 9. Former Macalester star and senior Caleb Williams, sidelined with mononucleosis, made his season debut at the last minute on Sunday.