Mitchell, Hawkins lead Minnesota over Maine 80-62 for fifth straight victory
MINNEAPOLIS — Mike Mitchell Jr. hit five 3-pointers and scored 18, Elijah Hawkins added 12 points and 10 assists and Minnesota defeated Maine 80-62 on Friday night.
Mitchell made 6 of 10 shots, including 5 of 8 from distance, for the Golden Gophers (10-3), who have won five in a row. Hawkins, who notched his second double-double this season, leads the country with 101 assists — two more than Darius Brown II of idle Utah State.
Dawson Garcia and reserve Pharrel Payne scored 12 each for Minnesota, with Payne grabbing eight rebounds and Garcia snagging six. Joshua Ola-Joseph scored 10.
Peter Filipovity paced the Black Bears (8-7) with 16 points and 13 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Kristians Feierbergs added 14 points and six boards off the bench. Kellen Tynes pitched in with 13 points and seven assists.
Mitchell had 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting from 3-point range and Hawkins hit 2 of 3 from distance and scored 10 to guide Minnesota to a 41-28 lead at halftime.
Feierbergs sank a 3-pointer to pull Maine within 43-38 with 16:10 left to play, but the Black Bears would get no closer. Payne accounted for all three baskets in a 6-0 run to quickly push the lead back to double digits.
Minnesota beat Maine 91-77 in December 1999 in the only previous meeting. The Golden Gophers are 5-0 all-time against members of the America East Conference.
Minnesota travels to play Michigan on Jan. 4 as Big Ten Conference play resumes. Maine opens conference play at Vermont on Jan. 6.
