Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – The Niko Medved era at Minnesota got off to a resounding start Monday night as the Golden Gophers dominated Gardner-Webb 87-60 at Williams Arena in their season opener.
Minnesota put on an offensive clinic in the first half, racing to a commanding 53-20 halftime lead that effectively put the game out of reach before the break. The Gophers maintained control throughout the second half to secure the comfortable 27-point victory.
Cade Tyson was the star of the night, pouring in a game-high 30 points to lead all scorers. The sharpshooter showed why he’s expected to be a focal point of Medved’s offense, consistently finding ways to score against the overmatched Runnin’ Bulldogs.
Langston Reynolds provided a spark off the bench, contributing 14 points in a solid reserve performance. The depth displayed by Minnesota will be encouraging for Medved as he looks to establish his system with the program.
The dominant performance in Medved’s debut gives Gophers fans plenty of reason for optimism as the first-year head coach begins his tenure. While Gardner-Webb may not provide the stiffest competition, the manner in which Minnesota executed on both ends of the floor suggests the team has bought into their new coach’s vision.
The Gophers will look to build on their opening-night success when they return to Williams Arena on Saturday to host Alcorn State.
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