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) | 18-0 | - | 32-2 |
| Akron | 17-1 | 1 | 29-6 |
| Kent State | 14-4 | 4 | 24-10 |
| Toledo | 11-7 | 7 | 19-15 |
| Bowling Green | 9-9 | 9 | 18-14 |
| Ohio | 9-9 | 9 | 15-17 |
| Buffalo | 7-11 | 11 | 17-15 |
| Massachusetts | 7-11 | 11 | 17-16 |
| Ball State | 7-11 | 11 | 12-19 |
| Central Michigan | 6-12 | 12 | 10-21 |
| Western Michigan | 4-14 | 14 | 10-21 |
| Eastern Michigan | 4-14 | 14 | 10-21 |
| Northern Illinois | 4-14 | 14 | 9-21 |
2025-26 Big Ten Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 19-1 | - | 37-3 |
| Nebraska | 15-5 | 4 | 28-7 |
| Michigan State | 15-5 | 4 | 27-8 |
| Illinois | 15-5 | 4 | 28-9 |
| Wisconsin | 14-6 | 5 | 24-11 |
| Purdue | 13-7 | 6 | 30-9 |
| UCLA | 13-7 | 6 | 24-12 |
| Ohio State | 12-8 | 7 | 21-13 |
| Iowa | 10-10 | 9 | 24-13 |
| Indiana | 9-11 | 10 | 18-14 |
| Minnesota | 8-12 | 11 | 15-18 |
| USC | 7-13 | 12 | 18-14 |
| Washington | 7-13 | 12 | 16-17 |
| Rutgers | 6-14 | 13 | 14-20 |
| Northwestern | 5-15 | 14 | 15-19 |
| Oregon | 5-15 | 14 | 12-20 |
| Maryland | 4-16 | 15 | 12-21 |
| Penn State | 3-17 | 16 | 12-20 |