North Dakota @ Minnesota preview

North Dakota at Minnesota

Last Meeting ( Dec 8, 2014 ) North Dakota 56, Minnesota 92

Minnesota looks to win back-to-back games for the first time this season when it hosts North Dakota on Sunday. The Golden Gophers bounced back from three consecutive road defeats, which was their longest non-conference losing streak in over four years, with an encouraging 82-57 win over Central Michigan, and hope to climb back to .500 by taking down the Fighting Hawks in the first meeting between the teams since Dec. 8, 2014.

The Golden Gophers held the high-flying Chippewas to 51 points under their season average, and hope to put the defensive clamps on North Dakota, which has been limited to 70 points or fewer in each of its last three games. "We were really good defensively against a team that was averaging over 100 points," Minnesota coach Richard Pitino told reporters. "I think it was a great step in the right direction and it was great to be home in front of our fans." The Golden Gophers have won 13 straight non-conference home games, including a pair this season by an average margin of 30 points, and aim to continue their dominance in Minneapolis by beating a Summit Conference opponent for the third time in as many years. North Dakota has dropped three straight games following a 79-70 loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday, and hopes to turn its fortunes around by ending a five-game losing skid to Big Ten teams since 2013-14.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA (1-3): Filip Rebraca had one of the best games of his career as the sophomore forward produced 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocked shots against Milwaukee to register his third double-double of the season. Rebraca finished 8-of-9 from the floor en route to a career high in points and his eight blocks were two shy of the single-game program record set by Dan Clausen in 1982. Kienan Walter and Marlon Stewart each scored 15 points while De'Sean Allen-Eikens added 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds to notch the first double-double of his career.

ABOUT MINNESOTA (2-3): Against Central Michigan, Marcus Carr scored a game-high 19 points and dished out seven assists while Payton Willis went 4-of-6 from 3-point range en route to 18 points, as the Golden Gophers made 14 shots beyond the arc, which was two shy of the program record of 16 set in 2001. Gabe Kalscheur drained five triples to finish with 15 points while Daniel Oturu added nine points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots in the win against Central Michigan. "It felt great and we are getting our confidence back," Carr told reporters. "We love to play at home in front of our fans and there is no place like the Barn."

TIP-INS

1. Minnesota has won 27 of its last 28 non-conference home games since the start of the 2016-17 season.

2. The Golden Gophers have made an average of 10.6 3-pointers per game.

3. Oturu has finished with at least 10 rebounds in four of his first five games this season.

PREDICTION: Minnesota 85, North Dakota 61