Center Dawson Garcia played despite a groin injury, and starting guard Mike Mitchell Jr. and four others were absent for the Gophers.

Minnesota came out of the locker room with some urgency. After making 5-of-6 field goals, the Gophers cut North Texas' lead to 30-27 and reignited some energy into the home crowd at The Barn. They surpassed their first-half scoring total just over five minutes into the second half.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers dropped their first game of the 2024-25 season to North Texas on Wednesday night, 54-51, at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Minnesota struggled early on as they only managed to put up 14 total points in the first half alone and trailed by nine heading into the second half.

Rondel Walker scored 14 points and undefeated North Texas led for most of the way and held off Minnesota for a 54-51 victory on Wednesday night. Dawson Garcia scored six points during an 8-2 surge to pull Minnesota to 52-51 with 30 seconds left.

A horrendous first half of basketball was too much for the Gophers men's basketball team to overcome as it was handed its first loss of the season to North Texas 54-51 Wednesday night at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.