Minnesota puts focus on foul line ahead of Chicago State matchup

Minnesota barely avoided a stunning loss the last time it took the court.

The Golden Gophers want to avoid a similar situation from happening three days later.

Minnesota (3-1) will go for back-to-back victories when it tips off against Chicago State (0-4) on Tuesday night in Minneapolis.

The Golden Gophers have enjoyed a strong start under new coach Niko Medved, but their latest contest was dicey as they needed overtime to emerge with a 72-65 home win over Green Bay.

Medved hopes that the close call helps his team improve in the long run.

The Golden Gophers were favored by more than 25 points against Green Bay, which went 4-28 last season, however, the Phoenix looked like equals against Minnesota as they sent the game to the extra session on a layup with less than two seconds to go.

"To our guys' credit, I thought in the overtime guys stepped up," Medved said. "(Jaylen Crocker-Johnson) made a couple of huge shots. (We) knocked down our free throws and found a way to get out of here with a win."

Free throws will be a point of emphasis when Minnesota takes on Chicago State. The Golden Gophers made only 20 of 39 at the foul line against Green Bay.

"I felt like I was in the 'Twilight Zone' from the free-throw line there, I'm not going to lie," Medved said. "I don't know if I've ever seen anything like that. And these guys are good free-throw shooters. I don't know if we got a little bit rattled there down the stretch (of regulation)."

Cade Tyson leads Minnesota with an average of 23.8 points per game through his first four contests. Crocker-Johnson is next with 11.3 points to go along with 13.3 rebounds per game.

Chicago State is led by Marcus Tankersley, who is averaging 17.0 points and shooting 48.2% from the field. Stephen Byard also is scoring in double digits at 11.5 points per game.

The Cougars are looking for their first win under new coach Landon Bussie, who joined the program during the offseason after serving in the same role at Alcorn State. He led the Braves to a 66--83 record and two SWAC regular-season championships in five seasons.

--Field Level Media