Isaac Asuma scored a team-high 15 points and Minnesota pulled away for a 61-44 win against Oregon in a Big Ten Conference matchup Tuesday night in Eugene, Ore.
Grayson Grove finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and three steals for Minnesota (12-14, 5-10 Big Ten), which had lost nine of its previous 10 games. Cade Tyson scored 12 points and eight rebounds, and Bobby Durkin chipped in with 11 points.
Nate Bittle scored 15 points on 7-for-15 shooting to lead Oregon (9-17, 2-13). Kwame Evans Jr. scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Ducks, who had snapped a 10-game skid by beating Penn State on Saturday.
Neither team shot better than 40%, but Minnesota had the edge in 3-point shooting. The Golden Gophers hit 31% (9 of 29) from long distance while the Ducks made only 10% (2 of 20).
Minnesota won the rebound battle 38-28, including a 13-6 edge on the offensive glass.
Oregon led 30-29 after Evans knocked down a 3-pointer with 13:24 remaining to cap a 9-0 surge.
The Golden Gophers responded with a 7-0 run to grab a 36-30 lead with 11:51 to go. Durkin made a 3-pointer to punctuate the spree.
Minnesota increased its lead to double digits with 4:03 left. Durkin made another 3-pointer to put the Golden Gophers on top 52-42.
Durkin’s basket started a 12-0 run that included a layup and two free throws by Langston Reynolds, two foul shots from Tyson and a 3-pointer by Grove. The final basket of the run increased Minnesota’s lead to 61-42 with 1:29 remaining.
Minnesota led 22-17 at the half.
Oregon cut an early five-point deficit to 14-13 lead before the Golden Gophers went on an 8-0 run to seize the lead for the rest of the half. Asuma made a jump shot and a 3-pointer to start the scoring outburst, which also included a 3-pointer by Tyson to make it 22-13.
The Ducks scored the final four points before the break. Bittle made a hook shot and Dezdrick Lindsay dunked, with Takai Simpkins assisting on both plays.
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson missed his second game in a row for Minnesota because of a foot injury.
