Highlights: Gopher Basketball Wins NIT Opener Over Butler
Dawson Garcia led five players in double-figures with a game-high 25 points, and Elijah Hawkins finished with 11 points and a game-high 15 assists, as Minnesota (19-14) rallied late to record a 73-72 win over Butler (18-15) at Hinkle Fieldhouse in the First Round of the NIT.
Garcia made 11-of-19 field goals for his 13th game with 20-plus points this season and added four rebounds. Hawkins shattered Minnesota's single-game NIT record for assists, which had been eight (twice), most recently by Austin Hollins versus High Point in 2014. In fact, it marked the most assists by a Gopher in postseason play as Melvin Newbern had nine assists in 1990 against Northern Iowa. The point-assist double-double was the sixth this season for Hawkins, who led the nation in assists per game. Hawkins also led the Gophers with six rebounds tonight.
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