Alcorn State vs Minnesota: Gophers blitz Braves 95–50 behind Cade Tyson and twin double-doubles

Minnesota turned Alcorn State vs Minnesota into a one-way statement at Williams Arena on Saturday, roaring to a 95–50 win that showcased depth on the glass, shot creation on the wings, and a ruthless opening salvo that ended the suspense before halftime. A 17–0 start set the tone, and the Golden Gophers never looked back.

A start that slammed the door early

From the opening tip, Minnesota’s pace and physicality overwhelmed the visitors. A three-point play on the first possession ignited the 17–0 burst, and the lead ballooned again on an 11–0 run midway through the half. Alcorn State didn’t record its first field goal until the 12:30 mark, and the scoreboard reflected the chokehold: 48–17 at halftime. The hosts led by as many as 50 late in the second half.

The early blueprint was simple and devastating: force misses, win the defensive board, run. Minnesota’s wings attacked closeouts while bigs sprinted into early seals, creating easy paint touches and free throws that broke the game open.

Stars of the night for Minnesota

• Cade Tyson (21 points, 6 rebounds): The wing scorer set the pace with downhill attacks and spot-up threes, punishing soft closeouts and mismatches.

• Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (15 points, 16 rebounds): A double-double built on sheer activity. He vacuumed the defensive glass and carved out put-backs on the other end.

• Robert Vaihola (12 points, 13 rebounds): Another double-double, thriving in screen-and-roll and short-roll pockets.

• Chansey Willis Jr. (13 points): Reliable secondary creation, turning drives into paint-kick threes and free throws.

Minnesota’s physical edge was most obvious on the boards and at the line. The hosts outrebounded Alcorn State 50–24, including 19–10 on the offensive glass, and cashed those extras into a 24–8 second-chance advantage. Even without a barrage from deep (just 5-for-16 from three), they kept the scoreboard humming by living at the stripe (32-for-37).

Alcorn State’s uphill climb

For the Braves, the night was defined by a brutal opening stretch and limited second-chance lifelines. With the deficit mounting, half-court sets shifted toward contested jumpers rather than interior touches. Davian Williams and William Henderson led with nine points apiece, but sustained runs never materialized, and transition defense had to absorb wave after wave of Gopher pushes.

The defensive glass told the story. One-and-done possessions were rare; scramble sequences after initial stops repeatedly turned into points via put-backs or fouls. Against a power-conference opponent on the road, those extra trips were the difference between hanging around and getting separated.

What the numbers say about Alcorn State vs Minnesota

• Final: Minnesota 95, Alcorn State 50

• Halftime: Minnesota 48, Alcorn State 17

• Largest lead: Minnesota +50 (91–41, 3:08 2H)

• Rebounds: Minnesota 50 | Alcorn State 24

• Offensive rebounds: Minnesota 19 | Alcorn State 10

• Second-chance points: Minnesota 24 | Alcorn State 8

• Free throws: Minnesota 32–37

• Minnesota threes: 5–16

Why this matters for the Gophers

This was the second straight authoritative win to open the season and another clean data point for a group learning a new voice on the sideline. Beyond the score, the process traveled: defend without fouling in the first half, control the glass, manufacture paint points, and lean on pace to generate early offense. Tyson’s shot diet looked sustainable, and the twin-double interior rotation offered a reliable floor for rebounding and rim pressure.

The rotation notes were encouraging as well. Perimeter minutes staggered neatly, keeping at least one downhill creator on the floor. In the frontcourt, touches were purposeful—post seals and short-roll reads instead of static isolations—leading to free throws and cleanup scores even on low three-point volume.

What’s next

• Minnesota: A step up in competition on the road awaits next, a useful barometer for how the rebounding and free-throw advantages translate when whistle balance and shot quality tighten.

• Alcorn State: The trip continues with another power-conference date. The emphasis will be early shot selection, defensive rebounding positioning, and limiting opponent runs to single digits to keep pressure on late.

In Alcorn State vs Minnesota, the Gophers paired a knockout start with overwhelming rebounding and whistle control to craft a 45-point rout. If they keep owning the glass and stacking free throws, this formula will play in tougher gyms, too.