Gophers gameday

2 p.m. VS. Louisiana Monroe • Williams Arena • BTN, 1500-AM

Gophers at a glance: Minnesota won its opener vs. Missouri-Kansas City on Friday 76-58, using a barrage of 12 three-pointers, eight in the second half. But the Gophers were not without their struggles. They led just 32-30 at halftime, allowed UMKC to also make 12 three-pointers — including seven from LaVell Boyd, who managed 25 points — and were outrebounded 42-37, but coach Richard Pitino used an undersized lineup to create the momentum switch Minnesota needed in the second half. Senior Joey King led the team with 22 points and six three-pointers. Sophomore center Bakary Konate returned from missing over a month with a stress fracture in his left foot and had three blocks, two points and two rebounds in six minutes.

Louisiana Monroe at a glance: The Warhawks have plenty of competition in the Sun Belt, but they could be on the rise this season — again. After reaching the CBI championship game last year, Louisiana Monroe finished 24-14 after going 10-17 in 2013-14 and 4-23 the year before under sixth-year head coach Keith Richard. The Warhawks have lost just one starter from last year's team. Senior big man Majok Deng, 6-10 and 185 pounds, has high potential on the boards and in blocking shots — he had four blocks on Friday as Louisiana-Monroe crushed Division III McMurry 88-43. And while Louisiana Monroe struggled to generate points at times a year ago, defensively the Warhawks were solid, especially from three-point range, where they held opponents to making 29.7 percent of their shots, ninth best in the nation.

AMELIA RAYNO