The Minnesota Golden Gophers couldn't manage a run to the NCAA tournament thanks to a mediocre regular season, but they looked decent in their first NIT Tournament matchup against La Salle, winning 70-61.
On Monday the Gophers will play their second game in the tournament against the Miami Hurricanes to decide who will make it to the quarterfinals of Region 2. Miami had a more impressive regular season leading to their two seed in the NIT, putting together a winning record of 9-7 in the ACC but just being left out of the NCAA tournament bubble. The Gophers 6-12 conference record left no mysteries as to why they were not invited.
The game is scheduled to tip-off at 8 p.m. Central Time and will be televised on ESPN following the conclusion of the night's early NIT action between the Tennessee Volunteers and Middle Tennessee State.
Minnesota is celebrating coach Tubby Smith's 100th all time with with the Gophers after beating La Salle and will hope to make a deep run in the NIT so that they have something to celebrate in what has otherwise been a somewhat lost season for them.
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