Cade Tyson scored 22 points on 6-for-13 shooting and Minnesota held on for a 66-54 win over Chicago State on Tuesday night in Minneapolis.
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson added 15 points and seven rebounds for Minnesota (4-1), which remained unbeaten at home. Isaac Asuma scored 14 for the Golden Gophers.
Marcus Tankersley scored 16 points on 6-for-14 shooting to lead Chicago State (0-5). Braelon Bush scored 10 points, and CJ Ray chipped in seven points off the bench.
Minnesota won the rebounding battle 41-29, including a 14-8 advantage on the offensive glass.
The Golden Gophers faced a tough test against a heavy underdog for the second game in a row. They held on to beat Green Bay in overtime Saturday night, and they trailed midway through the second half against Chicago State.
Stephen Byard knocked down a jump shot to put the Cougars on top 45-44 with 8:58 remaining in the second half. Tyson evened the score at 45-all when he made one of two free-throw attempts, but Chicago State struck again when Bush made a jump shot on the next possession.
Bush’s basket gave Chicago State a 47-45 lead with 7:51 remaining.
Minnesota regrouped to avoid the upset on its home court.
Chansey Willis Jr. made one of two free-throw attempts but missed the second. Crocker-Johnson pulled down the offensive rebound and went back up for a layup to put the Golden Gophers on top 48-47 with 6:38 to play.
The sequence started an 11-0 run for Minnesota. Langston Reynolds had a free throw and a dunk during the run, Tyson made two free throws and Asuma drained a 3-pointer. Asuma’s shot punctuated the run, which gave Minnesota a 56-47 lead with 3:27 to go.
Chicago State never got closer than six points the rest of the way.
The Golden Gophers lost starting forward Robert Vaihola to injury in the second half. Vaihola stepped awkwardly and grabbed his right knee as he tried to avoid a shot near the 3-point line.
Vaihola, who did not return, finished with four points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes.
