Preview: Minnesota Golden Gophers at Penn State Nittany Lions

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking to halt extended slides will meet Sunday when the Minnesota Golden Gophers visit the Penn State Nittany Lions in a Big Ten men’s basketball matchup at Bryce Jordan Center.

Both squads enter with losing records and are mired in significant losing streaks. Minnesota (10-11, 2-8 Big Ten) has dropped six consecutive games, with its last win coming on Jan. 6. Penn State (9-12, 1-9) has fared even worse in conference play, losing its last nine games. The Nittany Lions’ most recent victory was a non-conference win over North Carolina Central on Dec. 29.

The game features a key backcourt matchup between two players tasked with carrying their struggling offenses. Minnesota will rely on guard Bobby Durkin, who is coming off a 20-point performance in a 67-63 loss at Wisconsin on Wednesday. Durkin has averaged 12.4 points over his last eight games but has seen inconsistent scoring output.

Penn State counters with guard Kayden Mingo, who scored 15 points and dished four assists in the Nittany Lions’ 94-73 loss at Northwestern on Thursday. Mingo has shown flashes of high-level play, including a 19-point, 5-assist effort at Maryland on Jan. 18, but Penn State has struggled to find consistent support around him.

The Golden Gophers’ recent skid includes several narrow defeats, including overtime losses to Ohio State and Southern California, and a three-point loss to Wisconsin. Penn State’s struggles have been marked by defensive lapses, allowing an average of 88.4 points during their nine-game conference losing streak.

Historically, this matchup has been closely contested, adding another layer of urgency for both teams to salvage their seasons. With the calendar turning to February, Sunday’s contest represents a critical opportunity for either Minnesota or Penn State to build momentum before the final stretch of the regular season.

Tip-off is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.