Bobby Durkin leads balanced attack as Minnesota opens with 85-50 romp over North Dakota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Bobby Durkin scored 16 points to lead a balanced attack and Minnesota cruised to an 85-50 victory over North Dakota in a season opener on Monday night.

Durkin made 4 of 5 shots from 3-point range and his only try from inside the arc for the Golden Gophers.

Jaylen Crocker-Johnson finished with 15 points for Minnesota. Isaac Asuma and reserve Malick Kordel both scored 13 with Asuma adding six assists. Grayson Grove also had six assists to go along with 11 points.

Jayden Moore had 13 points off the bench to lead the Fighting Hawks. Fellow reserve Andrija Radojevic scored 10.

Luke Winkel hit a 3-pointer to give North Dakota its only lead at 3-1. Grove answered with a 3-pointer and the Gophers never trailed again, rolling into halftime up 41-25.

The Fighting Hawks had the first basket of the second half, but Minnesota scored the next 18 points to cruise to the finish.

Minnesota shot 54.8% overall (34 for 62) and 40% from 3-point range (10 for 25).

North Dakota shot 28.8% and missed 25 of 28 shots from beyond the arc.

Up next

North Dakota: At Winthrop on Saturday.

Minnesota: Hosts Buffalo on Thursday.

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