Figuring out how to win in the Big Ten was something that always seemed to escape Ben Johnson’s Minnesota men’s basketball team, especially in the second half. Gophers fans sensed something might be different Thursday night as the game came down to the final minutes against No.

Dawson Garcia hit a buzzer-beater from the mid-court logo as time expired to lift Minnesota to an 84-81 overtime upset of No. 20 Michigan on Thursday night. The desperation heave sparked a frenzied celebration inside Williams Arena as the Gophers (10-9, 1-6 Big Ten) celebrated their first conference victory.

January, Minnesota basketball (9-9) is likely to miss the NCAA Tournament for a sixth straight season. Following a promising 19-win 2023-24 campaign, the Golden Gophers are stumbling mightily in the expanded Big Ten Conference.