Dawson Garcia’s long three-pointer to end OT gives Gophers men’s basketball first Big Ten win of the season

Figuring out how to win in the Big Ten was something that always seemed to escape the Gophers men’s basketball team, but the players never stop believing it would come.

Gophers fans also sensed something might be different Thursday night as the game came down to the final stretch against No. 20 Michigan.

With no timeouts in the waning seconds of a tied game in overtime, Lu’Cye Patterson took the inbounds pass and raced past midcourt. He wasn’t open, though, so he kicked the ball back to Dawson Garcia.

Garcia did just about everything for his team, so why not hit a buzzer-beater, too?

Garcia’s logo shot from a few steps inside the halfcourt line gave the Gophers their first Big Ten victory this season and first ranked victory under fourth-year coach Ben Johnson, 84-81 in overtime over the Wolverines in front of announced crowd of 8,877 at Williams Arena.

“Just a lot of emotions in how bad we wanted to win and seeing it come into fashion like that,” said Garcia, who had 27 points and 12 rebounds, including the tying free throws with 7.4 seconds left in regulation. “Lu’Cye trusts me to knock down the shot. Really just thankful for my teammates and God that I’m in that position.”

Danny Wolf’s layup tied the score for Michigan at 81-81 with 7 seconds left in OT, but Garcia wouldn’t let the Gophers lose. The 6-11 senior was swarmed by fans and his teammates after probably the biggest shot of his college career.

Patterson added 22 points and Mike Mitchell 20 for the Gophers, who only led for 8 minutes, 4 seconds. But they never trailed in OT, with Garcia calling for the ball as Patterson dribbled down the court on the game’s final possession.

“I was going to try to get to the cup, but he wanted it,” Patterson said of Garcia. “I lined it up for him. I kind of put the ball in the right place for his hands and he hit it. I trust him like he’s my brother.”

The Gophers (9-9, 1-6 Big Ten) were 0-16 under Johnson against ranked opponents and had 18 straight such losses since beating Purdue under Richard Pitino on Feb. 11, 2021.

“It took four years to finally get something to go our way a little bit,” Johnson said. “Our guys have this togetherness. I’ve been telling people we’re getting better, and nobody probably believes me. I’ve been telling people we’re this close, and nobody probably believes me. My players included. I’ve had a great feeling about the direction.”

Fouls and missed free throws led to a heartbreaking 89-88 double-overtime loss to Ohio State on Jan. 6. But the Gophers ended the Big Ten title-contending Wolverines’ five-game win streak Thursday.

Patterson hit a three-pointer at the top of the key with 50 seconds to play in the second half to give his team a 69-68 lead, but a late turnover nearly cost the Gophers in regulation.

Michigan’s Vlad Goldin missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 39 seconds left, but the Gophers’ Isaac Asuma threw the ball away on the ensuing inbounds play.

Wolf hit a three-pointer to give the Wolverines (13-4, 5-1) a 71-69 lead with 28.9 seconds left. Garcia tied the score with his two free throws, and the game went to overtime as Michigan’s Tre Donaldson missed an off-balance shot before time expired.

Wolf had 23 points and 10 rebounds but also six turnovers for Michigan. Goldin scored 18 points and Will Tschetter (Stewartville) had 15, matching his season high.

The Gophers were coming off a tough 77-71 loss at Maryland on Monday, but they had a feeling things might go their way at some point soon.

“It’s definitely up there,” Garcia said about where the victory ranked for him. “It was a big-time team accomplishment.”