MINNEAPOLIS -- Jordan Murphy scored 12 points and grabbed 18 rebounds and Minnesota defeated Chicago State 70-52 on Wednesday night.
Carlos Morris and Charles Buggs each scored 14 points for the Gophers (6-5), who avoided their first four-game nonconference losing streak in nine years.
Chicago State (3-9) got 12 points from sophomore guard Clemmye Owens, a transfer from Bethune-Cookman who was making his debut for the Cougars after sitting out the fall semester. The Cougars were held to just 32.8 percent from the floor as they lost their eighth straight.
Murphy, a 6-foot-6 freshman, has emerged as Minnesota's most important player in the nonconference schedule.