Gophers at a glance: Three games into the season, the Gophers (3-0) haven't had an easy game yet despite playing opponents from smaller conferences. In each game the difference was made in solid runs down the stretch. Trevor Mbakwe leads the team with 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. In Thursday's win over Fairfield, Mbakwe made 16 free throws (in 18 attempts) -- one short of the all-time Gophers record. Freshman Andre Hollins has started all three games at point guard but has been splitting minutes with Julian Welch and Maverick Ahanmisi. Coach Tubby Smith has experimented with using two of the three at the same time.

Mount St. Mary's at a glance: It hasn't been an easy road for the Mountaineers (1-2). Just before the season, projected starter and fifth-year senior Pierre Brown left school for personal reasons. Ja'Colby Wells has been out because of an ankle injury. And to add to the hard knocks, the team's two best players, point guard Lamar Trice and big man Kristijan Krajina, were suspended indefinitely for violating team rules hours before the season opener. The Mountaineers are 0-10 against the Big Ten as a Division I team.

AMELIA RAYNO