MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS NEWS

Payton Willis - Drops 19 points in victory Willis totaled 19 points (7-16 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 2-4 FT), six rebounds, one assist and two steals over 36 minutes during Friday's 73-69 victory over Western Kentucky.

Impact Willis committed four turnovers in Friday's narrow win, but he made up for it with plenty of scoring and rebounding production. The senior has played at least 24 minutes in each of the first two games of the season.

NOVEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jamison Battle - Top scorer in win Battle posted 20 points (5-13 FG, 5-12 3Pt, 5-6 FT), six rebounds, two assists and one steal over 40 minutes during Friday's 73-69 win over Western Kentucky.

Impact Battle had plenty of playing time Friday since the matchup against Western Kentucky remained close, and he led the Gophers in scoring despite shooting just 38.5 percent from the floor. The transfer from George Washington has been heavily involved across his first two games at Minnesota.

NOVEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Battle scores 18 of 20 in 1st half, Minnesota holds off WKU Jamison Battle scored 18 of his 20 points in the first half, Payton Willis added 19 points and Minnesota held off Western Kentucky 73-69 in...

NOVEMBER 13, 2021 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Battle scores 18 of 20 in 1st half, Minnesota holds off WKU

Jamison Battle scored 18 of his 20 points in the first half, Payton Willis added 19 points and Minnesota held off Western Kentucky 73-69 in the inaugural Asheville Championship

NOVEMBER 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gophers men's hoops face big test with Western Kentucky's size in Asheville Championship opener The Hilltoppers, who feature the tallest player in Division I, play the Gophers on Friday in North Carolina.

NOVEMBER 11, 2021 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Three early signings, three Minnesotans for Gophers men's basketball coach Ben Johnson Gophers men's basketball coach Ben Johnson made good on his promise to capture local talent by officially landing an all-Minnesota 2022 earl...

NOVEMBER 11, 2021 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Minnesota, WKU meet in Asheville

Western Kentucky and Minnesota are set to face off in a postseason game in Asheville

NOVEMBER 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gophers women stumble in opener, men get first precious win Fans hardly filled Williams Arena for either game, but they had more to cheer about at night when the men gave coach Ben Johnson his first v...

NOVEMBER 10, 2021 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Eylijah Stephens - Logs 13 points in win Stephens closed with 13 points (5-9 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 2-4 FT), six rebounds, three assists and two steals over 33 minutes during Tuesday's 71-56 victory over UMKC.

Impact Stephens primarily played off the bench across his four seasons at Lafayette, but he took on a starting role in his debut with the Gophers on Tuesday. The guard was one of three starters to score in double figures, and it appears as though he'll have a sizable role to begin the 2021-22 season.

NOVEMBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Big finish lifts Minnesota past Kansas City in Johnson debut

Jamison Battle scored 18 points, Minnesota allowed just four points over the final seven minutes and the Golden Gophers defeated Kansas City 71-56 on Monday night in the season ope...

NOVEMBER 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gophers men's basketball to sign three Minnesota natives to begin early national signing period Braeden Carrington, Pharrel Payne and Joshua Ola-Joseph are expected to sign Wednesday with first-year coach Ben Johnson.

NOVEMBER 10, 2021 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Minnesota welcomes Kansas City in 2021-22 season opener

Minnesota gets its 2021-22 season rolling by hosting the Kansas City Roos

NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Five things to watch entering the 2021-22 Gophers men's basketball season First-year coach Ben Johnson has several issues to overcome in taking over the Gophers program.

NOVEMBER 7, 2021 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Behind the scenes with Minnesota men's basketball coach Ben Johnson as he works to rebuild his alma mater MINNEAPOLIS — On a cool and cloudy fall morning, Ben Johnson stands about the scattered leaves on the front lawn of his two-story Minnetonka...

NOVEMBER 6, 2021 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Payton Willis - Scores 23 in scrimmage Willis compiled 23 points (9-15 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 1-1 FT), five assists, four rebounds and a steal in 34 minutes during Monday's exhibition win over Concordia-St. Paul.

Impact Willis transferred back to Minnesota in April and should serve as the team's starting point guard after Marcus Carr transferred to Texas. The senior was one of two Gophers to top 20 points in Monday's scrimmage, and he should continue to have plenty of chances to produce to begin the regular season.

NOVEMBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jamison Battle - Dominant in exhibition Battle posted 24 points (8-15 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 5-5 FT) and eight rebounds in 32 minutes during Monday's exhibition win over Concordia-St. Paul.

Impact Battle transferred from George Washington to Minnesota in March and is slated to serve as a starter in the Gophers' frontcourt. He led the team in scoring and came within two rebounds of a double-double in Monday's scrimmage and should have a prominent role in Tuesday's regular-season opener against Kansas City.

NOVEMBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gophers defeat Concordia-St. Paul 80-67 in men's basketball exhibition game The Gophers topped Concordia-St. Paul in an exhibition game at Williams Arena as Ben Johnson debuted as head coach of the men's basketball t...

NOVEMBER 2, 2021 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Gophers call tough hoops scrimmage at Oklahoma 'learning experience' for the season A one-sided affair wasn't surprising since the Gophers are picked to finish last in the Big Ten and Oklahoma has the talent to finish in the...

OCTOBER 28, 2021 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

As Ben Johnson takes over, Gophers put the 'new' in new look

New coach Ben Johnson has been heavily emphasizing the team concept in taking over at Minnesota

OCTOBER 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Exodus over? Gophers men's basketball gets Joshua Ola-Joseph, the 3rd state recruit in 2022 class Joshua Ola-Joseph of Osseo will join Park Center's Braeden Carrington and Cottage Grove's Pharrel Payne as the third prep player from Minnes...

AUGUST 31, 2021 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Gophers hoops target Joshua Ola-Joseph, from Osseo, announces decision Monday night If Joshua Ola-Joseph commits to the Gophers, he'll be the third Minnesotan in the Class of 2022 to say that he'll play for new coach Ben Joh...

AUGUST 30, 2021 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Gophers standout Marcus Carr announces he's transferring to Texas Marcus Carr, an All-Big Ten selection, had declared for the NBA draft each of the past two years only to change his mind each time.

JULY 17, 2021 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Texas lands Minnesota transfer Marcus Carr, 4-star guard Arterio Morris Carr, who had also played at Pittsburgh, started 60 games for the Gophers over two seasons. He averaged 19.4 points and 4.9 assists per game...

JULY 17, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM