Gophers men’s basketball sputters late in loss to Michigan State

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State’s Tom Izzo praised third-year coach Ben Johnson this week for building the talent up for the Gophers men’s basketball program. This was their “deepest team in years,” Izzo said going into the first matchup in two years.

That depth was put to the test Thursday with the Big Ten’s assists leader Elijah Hawkins out because of an ankle injury.

Missing Hawkins was a blow that came at the worst time as the Gophers committed 19 turnovers and 24 fouls and struggled to slow down Spartans guard Tyson Walker late in a 76-66 loss at the Breslin Center.

“I really like the fight that we had from start to finish,” Johnson said. “There were times we could’ve caved but we didn’t. I thought we showed both physical and mental toughness.”

Hoping to end a two-game slide with their first victory at Michigan State since 2015, the Gophers hung around all night. Well, that is until going scoreless from the field over the final 5:39.

“Michigan State’s known to be a tough team, but we are, too,” said Dawson Garcia, who had 13 of his 22 points in the second half. “We gave ourselves a real chance. I thought we were going to win that game the whole time. Everybody else did, so that’s why it’s so disappointing.”

The Gophers (12-6, 3-4 Big Ten) twice took the lead in the second half and tied the score for the seventh time with Pharrel Payne’s layup to make it 62-62. Garcia had 11 straight points before that play.

The Spartans (11-7, 3-4) had an answer for Garcia with Walker scoring 12 of his 21 points in the final 3:38. The senior guard’s 10th straight point made it 72-64 with 1:12 left.

Hawkins might not be that type of scorer, but he is as important to the Gophers offense.

The Gophers had 11 turnovers in the first half, but they stayed in the game by shooting 5-for-11 from three-point range to trail 37-32 at halftime.

“We talk about how you have to win by 10 points on the road,” Mike Mitchell Jr. said. “I think turnovers were a factor why we lost. Could’ve played better at point guard, but I tried my hardest.”

Mitchell broke out of a slump with 14 points and five assists in just under 40 minutes. Payne had seven points and 10 rebounds after shaking off back pain to start at center.

The Gophers’ Cam Christie, the brother of ex-Spartans guard Max Christie, fouled out with eight minutes left. The Michigan State student section shouted from behind the bench as Christie left the floor frustrated at what could’ve been. Four players had at least four fouls.

“I thought he was going to be set up to have a monster game,” Johnson said of Christie, who had eight points in 16 minutes. “He had a bounce to his step. He was dialed in. So I was a little disappointed from his standpoint.”

BOXSCORE: Michigan State 76, Gophers 66

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The Gophers are now below .500 in the conference after a 3-1 start that eclipsed the two wins all of last season in league play.

Proving Izzo right, Minnesota looked like a more talented team. That’s why it stung to leave with a missed opportunity. Five of seven games starting Thursday were considered Quad 1, which is gold on a team’s résumé. Another big game looms Tuesday vs. Wisconsin at home.

The Spartans seemed more vulnerable having started the season with a 1-4 Big Ten record, the worst for the program since before Izzo’s tenure in 1988-89.

But this wasn’t the same Michigan State group that lost to James Madison at home. The Spartans, who scored 44 points in the paint and 21 points off turnovers, have wins in seven of the last nine games.