The Gophers had just a few days to recover after a tough loss to Miami on Wednesday night. Big Ten play opened on Sunday against an underrated Rutgers team. Minnesota used an efficient performance from Nate Mason to power their victory. He had 26 points, seven assists and just one turnover. Reggie Lynch added 16 points (7-for-10), nine rebounds, and five blocks in an 89-67 win.
In the first half, the Gophers were struggling on the offensive glass as the Scarlet Knights grabbed eight quick offensive rebounds. Entering the game, Rutgers was ranked first nationally in offensive rebounds per game (16.