The Barn Burner: Gophers Stun No. 10 Michigan State to Snap Slide

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In a season defined by “what ifs” and close calls, the Minnesota Golden Gophers finally found their breakthrough on Wednesday night. Before a raucous crowd at Williams Arena, Minnesota led from start to finish to topple No. 10 Michigan State 76–73, securing their first top-10 victory since 2021 and snapping a frustrating seven-game losing streak.

For first-year head coach Niko Medved, the win serves as a massive proof of concept, proving his squad can not only compete with the Big Ten’s elite but close the door when the pressure reaches a fever pitch.

Raining Threes in the Barn

The Gophers (11–12, 4–8 Big Ten) established dominance early by exploiting the Spartans’ perimeter defense. Minnesota connected on seven first-half three-pointers, building a 32–21 cushion at the break.

Jaylen Crocker-Johnson: The junior forward was the catalyst, shaking off a recent shooting slump to drop a game-high 22 points. He hit three triples in the first half alone and anchored the Gophers during their most vulnerable stretches.
Cade Tyson: The senior was clinical, adding 17 points and hitting a massive second-half three-pointer that helped push the lead to as many as 16 points.
Langston Reynolds: Playing the role of closer, Reynolds finished with 14 points and 8 assists, scoring 12 of his points in a high-intensity second half.

The Spartan Surge

Michigan State (19–4, 9–3), reeling from a rivalry loss to Michigan just days prior, refused to go quietly. Trailing 67–51 with just over four minutes to play, Tom Izzo’s squad unleashed a furious 20–6 run.

Coen Carr: Led the Spartans with 16 points, scoring 10 of those in the final three minutes to keep the pressure on.
Trey Fort: Became a late-game hero for MSU, hitting two clutch three-pointers in the final minute to pull the Spartans within two at 73–71 with just 20 seconds remaining.

Ultimately, Minnesota’s Isaac Asuma (10 points) stayed cool at the charity stripe, sinking two free throws with 15 seconds left to ice the game. When a final desperation heave from MSU’s Jaxon Kohler missed the mark, the “Barn” erupted as students stormed the court.

By The Numbers

Team	1st	2nd	Final
#10 Michigan State	21	52	73
Minnesota	32	44	76

gophersMinnesota Golden Gophers

The Shooting Edge: Minnesota shot 47.6% (10-of-21) from beyond the arc, their best mark in conference play this season.
Rebounding Battle: Despite the loss, MSU dominated the glass 39–23, but 14 turnovers and a frigid 33% shooting start in the first half proved too much to overcome.

Coaches’ Corner

The win marks a turning point for a Minnesota team that had lost five of its last seven games by three points or less. “It creates belief,” Niko Medved told reporters post-game. “We’ve been right there so many times. To finally see those free throws go in and get that stop at the end—it’s huge for these kids.”

For Tom Izzo and the Spartans, the loss marks their first consecutive defeats of the season, dropping them from a tie for first in the Big Ten down to fourth.