Rondel Walker recorded 14 points and three steals and North Texas led nearly the entire way while notching a 54-51 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday in nonconference play at Minneapolis.The Mean Green (3-0) led by as many as 11 and held an 18-4 edge in points off turnovers.Minnesota star Dawson Garcia played through a groin injury and had 24 points and eight rebounds. The Golden Gophers led for just 40 seconds.Garcia scored on a putback with 30.7 seconds left to bring Minnesota within 52-51.The Golden Gophers had a chance to take the lead but Lu’cye Patterson’s 3-point attempt was off the mark with eight seconds left.Brenen Lorient’s ensuing basket put North Texas in front by three, and Patterson missed another 3-point try at the buzzer.The Mean Green shot 37.7 percent from the field and were 5 of 17 (29.4 percent) from 3-point range.The Golden Gophers hit just 31.3 percent from the field, including 6 of 23 (26.1 percent) from behind the arc.After making just three baskets in the first half, the Golden Gophers sank three in the first 83 seconds of the second half. The 7-0 run cut their deficit to 23-21.The Mean Green were up 38-32 after a tip-in by Grant Newell with 10:07 remaining.
North Texas pulls off upset of cold-shooting Minnesota
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