Lu’Cye Patterson drove for that presentation with seven seconds left and Minnesota recovered from a 17-point first half deficit to publish a fantastic 64-61 victory over UCLA on Tuesday evening in the Big Ten game at Los Angeles.
Dawson Garcia scored 27 of her season best 32 points during the second half for Golden Gophers (14-12, 6-9 Big Ten), which led for just 26 seconds while he pulled off his second victory at the end of the game.
UCLA’s Sebastian Mack was called an offensive foul with 1.7 seconds left before Garcia made two free throw with 0.9 seconds left when Minnesota spoiled Bruin’s coach Mick Cronin’s bid for his 500th career victory.
Mike Mitchell Jr. added 14 points and Patterson made 11 for Golden Gophers, who won for the sixth time in the last nine matches.
Mack had 13 points and Kobe Johnson and Tyler BiloDeau added 12 points per piece for Bruins (19-8, 10-6). UCLA lost for just the second time in the last ten matches.
Bruins were only 5 out of 15 from the free throw line during the second half to help the Minnesota comeback bid. Bilodeau missed two foul shots with 1:25 left, and Eric Dailey Jr. Missed two by 17 seconds to play. UCLA led by one on both occasions.
Patterson’s layout with 1:02 left, Minnesota gave its first lead in the game at 60-59.
Mack then drove to the basket for UCLA, and his arrangement hit the edge three times before losing through 44.5 seconds left.
Patterson later converted what ended up being the winning basket for the second straight Stellar comeback. On Saturday, Minnesota closed the game with an 8-0 deficiency to register a victory 69-66 over the host Southern California.
Golden Gophers joined 45.8 percent of his shots, including 8 out of 24 behind the bow.
UCLA shot 45.1 percent from the field and broke down 6 out of 15 attempts from 3-point intervals. Bruins were 9 out of 19 from the free throw line, while Minnesota made 12 out of 13 Foul Shots.
Minnesota dragged with eight with under four minutes left before Garcia got six straight points.
Johnson made a jumper to give UCLA a 59-55 lead with 2:36 left before Garcia drilled a 3-pointer with 2:05 left to make it a score.
Golden Gophers was struck by 17 in the first half before they trimmed the deficit to 11 at half time and then to three early half.
Minnesota opened the second half with a 10-2 spurt, with Frank Mitchell’s arrangement which reduced the deficit to 36-33 by 15:17.
Skyy Clarks Steal and Layup gave UCLA a lead of 57-49 with 4:18 left before Golden Gophers made his charge.
BiloDeau scored nine points in the first half and UCLA led 34-23 at the break.
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