Gophers coach Ben Johnson faced the worst-case scenario with his team’s first Big Ten win this season on the line Monday night against Ohio State. A two-point lead and leading scorer Dawson Garcia were gone in an instant after he fouled out with 5.

Johnson tries to look at the Purdue game as three-fourths full. With an Isaac Asuma 3-pointer, Minnesota trialed 47-43 with 11 minutes left at The Barn, but the Boilermakers’ outstanding guards Braden Smith ad Fletcher Loyer stepped on Minnesota’s throat, while the Gophers were half-stepping.

The Ohio State Buckeyes (10-5, 2-2) picked up a key conference road win against the Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-7, 0-4) 89-88 in double-overtime to get to .500 in conference play. Bruce Thornton has had the Gophers’ number,