MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota’s defense sparked its fast-break offense in time for the Gophers to pull away from Rutgers on Saturday.

Amir Coffey scored 29 points to lead a balanced scoring attack as Minnesota defeated Rutgers 88-70.

Jordan Murphy scored 15 points and grabbed 14 ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Having four players in double figures and the return of a key player Sunday was a nice way for Minnesota to get ready for the resumption of Big Ten play.

Daniel Oturu recorded his fourth straight double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Gophers past Mount ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Coach Richard Pitino spoke to his Minnesota Gophers about avoiding a letdown following a challenging early-season schedule with Minnesota hosting Arkansas State on Saturday afternoon.

The Gophers took the message to heart early and then coasted to a decisive ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Amir Coffey seamlessly took over as the primary point guard. Dupree McBrayer, playing pain free, had his left-handed stroke in midseason form. Daniel Oturu quickly established his 6-foot-10 presence in his college debut.

This was just the kind of smooth opener Minnesota ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The breakthrough that Minnesota enjoyed two years ago became an afterthought last season, as injuries mounted and losses piled up.

Finishing 15-17 was a rough follow-up for the Gophers to their only NCAA Tournament berth under coach Richard Pitino.

“I’m a lot ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Nate Mason has finished his career with a flourish in his fourth year as the point guard for Minnesota, rising in the program’s record books with the performance of a calm, clutch and confident senior leader.

The Gophers haven’t reciprocated.

This once-promising ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Nate Mason wasn’t going to go out a loser in his last game at Williams Arena.

Mason scored 33 points and dished out six assists as Minnesota snapped a nine-game losing streak with an 86-82 victory over Iowa on Wednesday night.

Dupree McBrayer scored 16 for ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The status of Minnesota starting guards Amir Coffey and Dupree McBrayer remains uncertain for the upcoming game at Indiana.

Gophers coach Richard Pitino said Thursday that Coffey and McBrayer are still considered day to day. The Gophers play the Hoosiers ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Robert Johnson scored a career-high 28 points, while Justin Smith and Juwan Morgan each added 20 as Indiana defeated Minnesota 75-71 on Saturday.

Nate Mason led Minnesota with 22 points and nine assists, while Dupree McBrayer and Jordan Murphy each scored 18. Murphy ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Dupree McBrayer has been the most overlooked player in Minnesota’s balanced lineup, hindered by injuries this season and often a secondary option on offense with two powerful post players to feed and two dynamic teammates with him on the perimeter.

His value was on full ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jordan Murphy posted his 12th straight double-double to start the season with 24 points and 18 rebounds, and Minnesota held off Drake 68-67 on Monday night.

Amir Coffey added 16 points — all in the second half — and Nate Mason scored 12 for Minnesota (9-3).

Ore ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Even with two of his teammates on the bench in foul trouble, Jordan Murphy knew he didn’t have to take the game over in the second half. He did it anyway.

Murphy had 23 points and 11 rebounds, and No. 14 Minnesota cruised past Western Carolina 92-64 on Sunday.

Five ...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Minnesota will go into the NCAA Tournament without starting guard Akeem Springs, who tore the Achilles tendon in his right ankle.

Springs was injured late in the Gophers’ Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal victory over Michigan State on Friday. Without Springs, Minnesota ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — In the month of March, when college basketball players are kings, Nate Mason could barely find the courage to leave his house last season.

When Dupree McBrayer walked around the Minnesota campus, he could hear the whispers and the snickers from classmates as he kept his ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Reggie Lynch enjoyed the Williams Arena crowd chanting his name on Saturday after block after block against Penn State. At one point, Lynch let himself show his appreciation, smiling and pointing to the crowd.

The Minnesota Gophers are having fun again.

Lynch had ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota might have a new starting lineup for rival Wisconsin, with senior Akeem Springs in line to take sophomore Dupree McBrayer’s spot at shooting guard.

Coach Richard Pitino said Friday he’s been considering the switch to his rotation this week, but he stopped short ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Games are about to get much harder for Minnesota, but the Gophers look forward to the opportunity after a strong start to their season.

Dupree McBrayer scored 19 points and Minnesota held off Arkansas State 82-75 Friday in the final non-conference game for both ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Dupree McBrayer scored 21 points and Nate Mason added 19 points and seven assists for the Minnesota Gophers, who pulled away late to beat LIU Brooklyn 76-66 on Wednesday night.

Jordan Murphy added 13 points for Minnesota (11-1) as the Gophers won their fifth straight ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An off-court investigation and ankle injury slowed down Reggie Lynch earlier this year.

Now his coach believes the redshirt junior is one of the Big Ten’s best players in the middle.

Lynch and Jordan Murphy each had a double-double and Minnesota pulled away to beat ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Richard Pitino called his team’s 37-point win over Georgia Southern a “major step forward,” but not because of the point total. It was more how his players shared the ball against their overmatched nonconference opponents.

Dupree McBrayer scored 18 points and Akeem ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Richard Pitino wants to make sure his players aren’t reading too much into their 6-0 record.

After impressive wins against St. John’s and Arkansas, some Minnesota players said they expected an easier time against mid-major Southern Illinois.

“You can’t overlook ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota coach Richard Pitino started this season with a rule many college coaches have used before — no media interviews for freshmen.

It didn’t take long for Amir Coffey to force Pitino to change his mind.

Coffey scored 30 points on just 14 shots to lead ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Nate Mason had 15 points and seven assists, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers had five players score in double figures in an 86-74 victory on Friday against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Dupree McBrayer added 15 points for Minnesota, which made 10 3-pointers and shot 40 percent ...