Parker Fox scores 18 points off the bench, Minnesota escapes Cleveland State 58-47

Parker Fox scored 16 points off the bench to lead Minnesota to a 58-47 win over Cleveland State on Tuesday night.

The Gophers (4-1), playing their fifth game in 13 days to open the season, were locked in another close game and held a 50-47 lead with less than four minutes remaining. But the Vikings (3-3) missed their last eight shots after and Je’Shawn Stevenson 3-pointer with 4:18 left and didn’t score after Stevenson cut it to a three-point game with two free throws at 3:51.

Dawson Garcia and Brennan Rigsby each had 13 points for the Golden Gophers and Isaac Asuma had 13. Femi Odukale had 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks to go with one basket.

Garcia had a season-opening streak of 20-point-plus games, and Minnesota ended a streak of three games decided by four points or less.

Fox, who was 7-of-11 shooting, had his best scoring night in two seasons at Minnesota after starting his career at Northern State.

Tevin Smith had 10 points for Cleveland State, which found the Golden Gophers’ defense tough to break down. Minnesota allowed just 57.8 points a game. The Vikings lost 101-53 at Michigan to open the season and also lost at Kansas State by 13.

Cleveland State led a majority of the first half, but not by more than five points. Fox had a dunk and Garcia had four free throws to put Minnesota up 28-27 with a minute and a half left. Smith set the Vikings up with a jumper before Fox hit a 3 at the buzzer for a 31-29 halftime lead.

The Vikings tied the game three times in the second half, but never led.

The Golden Gophers wrap up a season-opening six-game homestand against Central Michigan on Monday before heading to Florida for the ESPN Events Invitational to face their first Power Four opponent.