Ball State Cardinals at Minnesota Golden Gophers
· NCAA Men's Basketball
Mitchell scores 20 points to lead Minnesota past Ball State; its 10th game at home
Elijah Hawkins and Joshua Ola-Joseph each scored 12 points and Cam Christie 11 for Minnesota (9-3) which has been on its home court for the season's first 10 games.
Jalin Anderson scored 26 points and Basheer Jihad 17 points for the Cardinals (8-4).
Mitchell started the game with a pair of 3-pointers, Christie made a jumper and 3 and Ola-Joseph made a pair of layups and Minnesota led 15-5. The Golden Gophers stayed ahead by double digits most of the first half and led led 39-27 at halftime.
Anderson's 3-pointer for Ball State brought the Cardinals to within 55-48 with 10:54 left; the closest Ball State got. Ola-Joseph made a jumper and a layup, Payne made consecutive layups to grow the lead to 72-57 with 6:11 left and Minnesota led by double figures for the remainder.
It was just the third-ever meeting between the two schools. The programs squared off in 1987 and 1988 each coming away with a win.
The Cardinals will start Mid-Atlantic Conference play on the road against Kent State on Jan. 2.
Minnesota hosts Maine on Dec. 29.
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Recent Plays
| 2nd 0:33 | missed Three Point Jumper. | 63 - 80 |
| 2nd 0:45 | Basheer Jihad made Free Throw. | 63 - 80 |
| 2nd 0:45 | Basheer Jihad made Free Throw. | 62 - 80 |
| 2nd 0:45 | Foul on Cam Christie. | 61 - 80 |
| 2nd 0:57 | Ball State Defensive Rebound. | 61 - 80 |
Statistics
 BALL |
 MINN |
|
|---|---|---|
| 24-53 | FG | 30-57 |
| 45 | Field Goal % | 53 |
| 8-21 | 3PT | 8-18 |
| 38 | Three Point % | 44 |
| 7-11 | FT | 12-22 |
| 64 | Free Throw % | 55 |
| 30 | Rebounds | 35 |
| 7 | Offensive Rebounds | 10 |
| 23 | Defensive Rebounds | 25 |
| 11 | Assists | 22 |
| 2 | Steals | 7 |
| 1 | Blocks | 3 |
| 14 | Turnovers | 6 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 14 | Total Turnovers | 6 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 5 | Points Off Turnovers | 19 |
| 2 | Fast Break Points | 12 |
| 26 | Points in Paint | 36 |
| 16 | Fouls | 15 |
| 0 | Largest Lead | 20 |
Game Information
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Attendance: 7,261 | Capacity:
2025-26 Mid-American Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami (OH) | 1-0 | - | 12-0 |
| Buffalo | 1-0 | - | 10-2 |
| Kent State | 1-0 | - | 10-2 |
| Akron | 1-0 | - | 9-3 |
| Bowling Green | 1-0 | - | 9-3 |
| Northern Illinois | 1-0 | - | 5-7 |
| Toledo | 0-0 | 0.5 | 6-6 |
| Massachusetts | 0-1 | 1 | 8-4 |
| Eastern Michigan | 0-1 | 1 | 6-6 |
| Ohio | 0-1 | 1 | 5-7 |
| Western Michigan | 0-1 | 1 | 5-7 |
| Central Michigan | 0-1 | 1 | 4-8 |
| Ball State | 0-1 | 1 | 3-9 |
2025-26 Big Ten Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 2-0 | - | 11-0 |
| Michigan | 2-0 | - | 10-0 |
| Michigan State | 2-0 | - | 11-1 |
| Purdue | 2-0 | - | 10-1 |
| UCLA | 2-0 | - | 9-3 |
| USC | 1-1 | 1 | 11-1 |
| Iowa | 1-1 | 1 | 9-2 |
| Indiana | 1-1 | 1 | 9-3 |
| Illinois | 1-1 | 1 | 8-3 |
| Ohio State | 1-1 | 1 | 8-3 |
| Washington | 1-1 | 1 | 7-4 |
| Wisconsin | 1-1 | 1 | 7-4 |
| Minnesota | 1-1 | 1 | 6-5 |
| Penn State | 0-2 | 2 | 8-3 |
| Northwestern | 0-2 | 2 | 7-5 |
| Maryland | 0-2 | 2 | 6-5 |
| Oregon | 0-2 | 2 | 6-5 |
| Rutgers | 0-2 | 2 | 5-6 |