Gophers make costly late mistakes in 89-88 double OT loss to Ohio State

Gophers lose in double OT to Ohio State, fall to 0-4 in Big Ten

The Gophers men's basketball team lost to Ohio State 89-88 in double overtime Monday night at Williams Arena to fall to 8-7 overall and 0-4 in Big Ten play.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team let its first Big Ten win slip away in an 89-88 double overtime loss to Ohio State Monday night at Williams Arena.

With a chance to seal the game in overtime up 73-71, Mike Mitchell Jr. missed two free throws. Kadyn Betts then had a mental error and gave a foul with under 10 seconds left, and the Buckeyes made both free throws to send the game to double overtime at 73-73. Ohio State scored the first eight points of the second extra session, and it was enough to leave Williams Arena with a win.

Ben Johnson called Betts' foul a mental error after the loss. His teammates were quick to try to pick him up.

"It just happens, it’s basketball. No matter how much you practice and how much you do, sometimes you have a little brain fart," forward Parker Fox said. "KB just had a brain fart, I just told him stay with us."

Minnesota has been plagued all season by bad free-throw shooting. The Gophers were 12-of-27 Monday night. The Buckeyes were 29-of-33. Mitchell is a 78 percent free-throw shooter for his career and 91 percent this season, but missed both with a chance to close out what could've been the Gophers' first league win.

The Gophers fall to 8-7 on the season, and 0-4 in Big Ten play. They have yet to beat a Power Four team this season.

"It’s hard because those guys put so much into every game. To play so well and have so many good things, it’s hard when you’re trying to find your groove and you’ve got a game and a situation where it’s right there and you want it for the guys so they can get the confidence and get rewarded. That’s what makes it tough," Johnson said. "To go back in that locker room, that’s a hurt locker room."

Big nights for Isaac Asuma, Parker Fox

How it happened: The loss spoiled big nights for Isaac Asuma and Parker Fox. Asuma, a true freshman from the Iron Range, had a career-high 18 points, four rebounds and three assists. Fox led the Gophers with 21 points and five rebounds, and scored the game’s first seven points. Mitchell had 18 points, but was just 2-of-6 at the free-throw line, and will want his last two back. Dawson Garcia had just five points before fouling out.

The loss came down to the free-throw line, and it's been an issue for the Gophers most of the season.

"Those guys put a lot of time into free throws. But it wasn’t just Mike’s. It’s tough to win any game when you go 12-of-27. It’s a team deal. Tonight for whatever reason we just couldn’t get the confidence at the line," Johnson said.

"He went 2-for-6 today, I’ve never seen Mike do that and I don’t think Mike will ever do that again. Mike is a 90 percent free-throw shooter for a reason," Fox said.