Gophers savor breakthrough with upset of Spartans as Medved's impact shows

Minnesota upset No. 10 Michigan State to snap a seven-game losing streak, and coach Niko Medved credited his players' character and the program's process. The win is the third victory over a ranked Big Ten team this season under Medved.

Minnesota earned an upset of No. 10 Michigan State on Wednesday, a win that ended a seven-game losing streak and generated a celebratory locker-room moment. The victory is the Gophers' third over a ranked Big Ten opponent this season under coach Niko Medved. Medved praised the players' character and said the result shows the process is working. The team has faced injuries that have limited its depth and has played in front of modest crowds at Williams Arena. Key facts: - Minnesota is 11-12 overall and 4-8 in Big Ten play. - The Gophers have beaten three ranked conference teams this season: Indiana (Dec. 3), Iowa (Jan. 6) and Michigan State (Feb. 4). - The win snapped a seven-game losing streak that included several narrow late-game losses and buzzer-beaters against Wisconsin and Penn State. - According to Opta, Minnesota became the only Division I team in the past 30 seasons to win a game while scoring no bench points, conceding a double-digit rebounding margin against them, and allowing 50-plus points in the second half. - Injuries have reduced the rotation to about two usable reserves; Cade Tyson and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson have been primary contributors, with Langston Reynolds, Isaac Asuma and Bobby Durkin also playing key roles. - All three ranked wins this season prompted court storms, and announced crowds at Williams Arena have been under 9,000, roughly 60% of capacity for the 98-year-old venue. Summary: The victory provided a tangible boost and reinforced coach Medved's message about character and steady improvement. While the win offers momentum, Minnesota still faces a long climb to a winning conference record. The team has one remaining regular-season game against a top-six opponent, a trip to No. 2 Michigan, and four games left against lower-ranked conference teams.