It wasn’t the prettiest game of the year but the Gophers did what they needed to against Southern Illinois to get the victory and continue their unbeaten start to the season, downing the Salukis 57-45. Coming off a confidence-boosting, double digit win over the Arkansas Razorbacks, a potential letdown was a possibility for the upstart Gophers as they found their footing in the new season. And after passing several early season tests, keeping up the energy against a relatively lackluster opponent after a big victory was yet a new one.
That narrative played out early on as Minnesota struggled to keep up the intensity from the start and the Salukis jumped up out a small lead early on 18-14.