Willis, Battle lead Minnesota past Jacksonville 55-44

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Minnesota forward Jamison Battle (10) scores on a layup after he was fouled by Jacksonville forward Mike Marsh (12) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021, in Minneapolis. (Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via AP)
1of12Minnesota forward Jamison Battle (10) scores on a layup after he was fouled by Jacksonville forward Mike Marsh (12) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021, in Minneapolis. (Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via AP)Aaron Lavinsky/AP

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Payton Willis scored 17 points and Jamison Battle 14 as Minnesota strung together a 12-2 run over six minutes late in the game to defeat Jacksonville 55-44 on Wednesday night.

Minnesota (5-0) led by 17 early in the second half before Jacksonville (2-2) cut that to 43-35 with just under eight minutes to play. E.J. Stephens drained a 3-pointer and Willis followed from beyond the arc as the Golden Gophers put up nine unanswered points over the next five minutes, building an 18-point lead with 1:34 remaining.

Sean Sutherlin added 10 points for Minnesota on 5-for-6 shooting. Stephens finished with seven points

Tommy Bruner led the Dolphins with 11 points and hit their lone 3-pointer with 42 seconds left. Jacksonville had been 0-for-14 from deep to that point. Rod Brown added eight points and nine rebounds as the Dolphins won the boards, 46-28.

The outcome breaks Minnesota's string of scoring at least 70 points in its first four games.

Two first-year head coaches squared off with Minnesota’s Ben Johnson and Jacksonville’s Jordan Mincy.

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