Flipping the script from the first exhibition game, coach Ben Johnson’s Gophers basketball team got off to a scorching start Tuesday night with a 19-0 lead against Division III Hamline at Williams Arena.
An injury to starting big man Frank Mitchell early in the first half soured the energy in the building early, but the Gophers still cruised to a 79-57 victory in their last tune-up before the regular season.
The bruising 6-8, 260-pound junior transfer from Canisius dove for a steal at midcourt around the 16-minute mark. After a Hamline player landed on him, Mitchell was writhing in pain before holding his right arm walking down to the locker room.
Mitchell returned to the bench with ice on his shoulder, but the extent of the injury was uncertain after the game.
“It’s unfortunate because he was playing really well with a ton of energy and a ton of juice,” Johnson said. “He’s done everything to get himself to this point, so to have a little setback you feel bad for him. That part stings a little bit.”
Opening the game, Mike Mitchell Jr. helped the Gophers start 4-for-4 from three-point range with three baskets from long distance in the first 2 minutes. Brennan Rigsby, who finished with a team-high 16 points, went on his own three-point barrage to open the second half. Rigsby and Mitchell combined for seven of the team’s 11 threes.
Johnson’s roster entering the season was already banged up with potential starting wing Femi Odukale missing both exhibition games to rest a hip injury. Senior guard Tyler Cochran is also out for at least another month following foot surgery.
The Gophers started senior guard and Minneapolis native Lu’Cye Patterson in his home debut Tuesday after missing the Bemidji State exhibition game with a shoulder injury.
