Gameday preview: Gophers basketball vs. Loyola Marymount

November 30, 2020 at 4:27AM

7 p.m. vs. Loyola Marymount BTN, 100.3-FM

So, Marymount … we meet again

Preview: For the first time in the regular season in team history, the Gophers (2-0) play the same opponent in back-to-back games Monday in a rematch against Loyola Marymount (1-1) at Williams Arena. The state's COVID-19 restrictions did not allow a second opponent during a three-day span, which prevented a previously planned multi-team event. The first meeting Saturday between the two programs since 2005 started off shakily for the Gophers, who trailed 19-10 in the first half. But Marcus Carr's 28 points led the U to an 88-73 victory. LMU junior guard Joe Quintana's 19 points led five players in double figures.

Players to watch: Carr scored 22 points in the first half Saturday, which picked up where he left off from his career-high-tying 35 points in last week's 99-69 season-opening victory against Wisconsin-Green Bay. The 6-2 junior guard is averaging 31.5 points on 53.7% shooting from the field. He's the Big Ten's second-leading scorer behind Iowa's Luka Garza and fourth in the nation. … LMU senior forward Keli Leaupepe has twice scored in double figures off the bench, including 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting against the Gophers on Saturday.

Numbers: Carr's 63 points this season are the most in a two-game span since former Gophers guard Amir Coffey had 31 points against Northwestern and 32 points against Purdue near the end of the 2018-19 regular season.

Marcus fuller

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