Score: Morgan State 68 | Minnesota 90
Location: Williams Arena, Minneapolis, Minn.
Records: Morgan State 6-10, 0-0 | Minnesota 8-5, 0-2
The short story:  Mike Mitchell Jr. scored 19 of his team—high 22 points in the first half to lift Minnesota to a 90-68 win against Morgan on Sunday afternoon at Williams Arena.

OPENING TIP

• Mitchell shot an efficient on 8-of-10 from the field, including 6-for-8 from 3-point territory and had five rebounds in 24 minutes.
• Dawson Garcia scored 18 points (5-7 FG) with eight boards and three blocks in 24 minutes. Parker Fox added 11 points (4-5 FG) and Frank Mitchell had 10 points with four rebound.
• Kameron Hobbs scored a game-and career-high 25 points with six boards and four assists in 33 minutes. Will Thomas, a Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection, scored 13 points in the first half, but was held scoreless in the second half. Rob Lawson added 11 points and Daniel Akitoby notched a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

THE DIFFERENCE

• Minnesota shot 51 percent (31-60) from the field, including 45 percent (13-29) from 3-point territory. The Bears shot  40 percent (24-60) from the floor and was 4-for-11 from behind the arc.
• Morgan shot 16-for-19 (84%) from the free throw line, compared to Minnesota's 62 percent (15-24).
• The teams were knotted at 35-35 on the boards, but the Gophers outscored the Bears 30-24 inside the paint. 
• The Gophers scored 17 points off of fastbreaks, compared to Morgan's 8.
• Minnesota's bench outscored the Bears by a 31-4 margin.
• The Gophers went up by 15 after using a 9-0 run to build a 32-17 lead. A 3-pointer by Mitchell pushed the lead to 37-19. Mitchell hit a step-back three to remained a perfeect 6-for-6 on the floor and 4-for-4 from three for 16 points to make it 42-21.  
• The Gophers didn't have their first turnover until it was 42-24 with 5:13 remaining in the half.
• Minnesota held a 55-37 lead at the break.
• Mitchell was absolutely on en fuego as he finished the first half hitting 8-for-8 from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 from deep to lead the Gophers with 22 points…his previous career-high was 23…he was the lone Gopher in double-figures in the half.
• The Bears cut into the lead and trailed 61-45 after a pair of free throws by Akitoby, but the Gophers answered with a 12-2 run that included a pair of 3-pointers and an and-one by Patterson to push the lead to 74-47 with 10:25 to go.
• Williams hit a 3-pointer to extend to the largest lead of the day at 86-59…up 27 points.
• Minnesota outscored the Bears by a 35-31 margin in the second half.

NOTABLE

• The win by Minnesota improves their series record against Morgan to 2-0.
• Minnesota's home record improves to 8-2.
• Morgan drops to 0-8 on the road.
• Kameron Hobbs' 25-point effort was his fourth 20-point game of the season, and his third straight.
• Daniel Akitoby recorded his fourth double-double (pts & rebs) of the season.
• Wynston Tabbs and Amahrie Simpkins did not play due to injury.
   

WHAT AWAITS

• The Bears return to action in the New Year for a conference home opener against the South Carolina State Bulldogs on Saturday, Jan. 4. Tip-off at Hill Field House is set for 4 p.m.

FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE 
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.