MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — Cade Tyson scored 24 points and the Minnesota Golden Gophers used a dominant first-half performance to cruise past the Campbell Fightin’ Camels 78-50 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Sunday at Williams Arena.

Minnesota, improving to 7-5, seized control from the opening tip, building a 41-22 halftime lead behind efficient offense and disruptive defense. The Golden Gophers shot 57.7% from the field in the opening period and forced 10 Campbell turnovers, converting them into 11 points.

The most important stretch of the game came early, as Campbell’s offensive struggles allowed Minnesota to build an insurmountable cushion. The Fightin’ Camels missed their first eight field goal attempts and committed three turnovers before finally scoring nearly four minutes into the game. By the time Campbell’s Jeremiah Johnson connected on a 3-pointer at the 8:46 mark, Minnesota had already built a 23-8 lead. The Golden Gophers’ defense consistently generated transition opportunities, outscoring Campbell 15-3 in fastbreak points for the game.

Tyson, a 6-foot-7 guard from Monroe, North Carolina, led all scorers, adding five assists in 36 minutes. He was one of five Golden Gophers to score in double figures. Isaac Asuma of Cherry, Minnesota, contributed 15 points and six assists, while Langston Reynolds added 12 points. Bobby Durkin and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson each scored 11 points, with Crocker-Johnson grabbing a team-high 14 points.

Campbell, which fell to 5-7, was led by Johnson’s 17 points. The Fightin’ Camels shot just 34.8% from the field overall and 18.8% from 3-point range. They were also hampered by 17 turnovers, which Minnesota converted into 17 points.

The Golden Gophers’ offensive execution was starkly superior, as evidenced by their 129.4 offensive rating on 60 possessions compared to Campbell’s 80.6 rating on 62 possessions. Minnesota also dominated inside, outscoring Campbell 40-22 in the paint, and shared the ball effectively, tallying 14 assists to Campbell’s four.

Minnesota’s largest lead was 30 points late in the second half as both teams emptied their benches. The announced attendance was 7,988.

The result followed Minnesota’s recent pattern, a convincing home win after a tough road loss. The Golden Gophers had defeated Texas Southern by 36 points at home on Dec. 14 before falling at Purdue by 28 on Dec. 10. Campbell, coming off a 28-point loss at Gonzaga on Dec. 17, continued its difficult early-season schedule against high-major opponents.

Campbell returns to action Tuesday at home against Green Bay. Minnesota concludes its nonconference schedule next Monday at home against Fairleigh Dickinson before opening Big Ten Conference play at Northwestern on Jan. 3.