Rutgers Scarlet Knights turn 22 assists into a late surge against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at United Center

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights left the Minnesota Golden Gophers with a 72-67 result at 9:00 PM EDT, moving Rutgers to 1-0 in Conference Tournaments play while the Gophers finished 0-1.

First half

The Scarlet Knights scored 29 in the first half while the Golden Gophers put up 31 to take a 2-point edge into halftime. Rutgers logged 10 turnovers in the game data, and Minnesota turned those possessions into 8 points off turnovers. The Knights created 17 points off turnovers on the other end as the Gophers finished with 15 turnovers.

Second half

Rutgers scored 43 in the second half after hitting 10 three-pointers on 44 percent shooting from deep in the full game line. The Golden Gophers scored 36 after shooting 43 percent from three and 52 percent from the field. Rutgers protected the rim with 6 blocks while Minnesota recorded 4 blocks, and the Knights also finished with 7 steals against the Gophers’ 6.

Closing stretch

The Scarlet Knights posted 22 assists and a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio as the ball moved into 22 points in the paint. Tariq Francis produced 29 points with 4 assists while shooting 71 percent from three in the prior player line, and that kind of perimeter shotmaking matched Rutgers’ game-level 56 effective field goal percent. Jamichael Davis added 13 points and 6 assists with 0 turnovers in the previous-game stats as Rutgers leaned on clean possessions to offset 27 total rebounds. Emmanuel Ogbole anchored the interior with 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks in the previous-game line as Rutgers finished the team sheet with 61 percent on paint attempts.

Team totals and context

The Golden Gophers generated 20 fast break points and 28 points in the paint in the team statistics while also drawing 10 fouls. Rutgers answered with 21 bench points compared with Minnesota’s 3 bench points, and the Knights also went 12-for-17 at the line for 71 percent. Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Minnesota Golden Gophers match summary data also showed 10 ties and 12 lead changes as the Scarlet Knights full-time result came down to execution on the extra possessions.

What’s next

Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Minnesota Golden Gophers highlights will point to the Knights’ 7 offensive rebounds as Rutgers turned them into 6 second-chance points in the venue report from Chicago. Post-game thoughts Rutgers Scarlet Knights supporters can take forward will turn quickly to the next broadcast at 9:00 PM EDT on 2026-03-12, with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights listed as the away team against the UCLA Bruins at United Center in Chicago, Illinois on BTN. Keep it locked, and share this article with other Rutgers fans.