Gophers blow past Fighting Hawks in 85-50 season opener

The Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated North Dakota 85-50 on Monday night at The Barn, securing a comfortable victory in their first regular-season game of the year.

Bobby Durkin led the offense with 16 points, including four successful three-pointers. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson contributed 15 points, while Isaac Asuma and Malick Kordel each scored 13. Five Gophers finished in double figures.

Minnesota established control early, building a lead of 23 points during the first half. The team led by 16 points at the break. Kordel, a 7-foot-2 center, fueled a late surge with four dunks during an 18-0 run early in the second half.

The Gophers shot 15 field goals and recorded 13 assists, a passing efficiency that head coach Niko Medved prioritized during the previous season. North Dakota struggled from the field, making only four of its first 28 shots for a 14 percent success rate in the opening 20 minutes. The Fighting Hawks recovered to make their final four attempts, finishing at 25 percent for the half. Jayden Moore led North Dakota with 13 points.

Three players sat out the contest: Cade Tyson, who is in the middle of a federal eligibility case; Chadrack Mpoyi, who faces an NCAA eligibility issue; and Winters Grady, whose status is unexplained. The Gophers now lead the all-time series against North Dakota 21-2 since 2014.

Minnesota will host St. Thomas at 7 p.m. Friday. The Tommies are projected to finish second in the eight-team Summit League, while North Dakota was picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll.