PALM DESERT, Calif. (Interstat) — In a back-and-forth battle defined by defensive tenacity and opportunistic offense, the Stanford Cardinal edged the Minnesota Golden Gophers 72-68 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday at Acrisure Arena.

The victory on Thanksgiving Day improved Stanford’s record to 5-1, while Minnesota fell to 4-3.

The game was a tale of contrasting efficiencies. Stanford, despite a frigid shooting performance, leveraged a massive advantage in second-chance opportunities and forced a slew of Minnesota turnovers to secure the win. The Cardinal shot just 37.3 percent from the floor and 25.8 percent from three-point range. The Golden Gophers, by contrast, were efficient when they got a shot off, connecting on 51.1 percent of their field goals and 45 percent from beyond the arc.

The difference proved to be volume. Stanford’s relentless work on the offensive glass resulted in 13 offensive rebounds, leading to 17 more field goal attempts than Minnesota. Furthermore, the Cardinal’s swarming defense forced 14 Golden Gopher turnovers while committing only five themselves, leading to a decisive 18-4 advantage in points off turnovers.

Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie led all scorers with 25 points, a crucial performance on a night where offensive rhythm was hard to find. He was complemented by Benny Gealer, who added 14 points and dished out five assists, and Chisom Okpara, who chipped in 11 points.

For Minnesota, Jaylen Crocker-Johnson was a force, scoring 23 points and recording four blocks. Cade Tyson provided strong support with 19 points, but the Golden Gophers’ ball-handling issues and inability to secure defensive rebounds ultimately undermined their efficient shooting.

The first half was a defensive struggle, with both teams struggling to find an offensive flow. Minnesota held a narrow 34-31 lead at the break, but the half was punctuated by eight Golden Gopher turnovers and multiple shot-clock violations from both sides.

Stanford emerged from halftime with renewed energy, quickly erasing the deficit. A key sequence early in the second half saw Gealer hit a three-pointer and then immediately force a steal that led to another transition three, giving Stanford a lead it would not relinquish. The Cardinal’s defense continued to harass Minnesota, generating steals and disrupting their offensive sets.

Minnesota refused to fade, staying within striking distance thanks to its shooting. Every time Stanford threatened to pull away, the Golden Gophers would answer with a basket from Crocker-Johnson or a three from Tyson or Bobby Durkin, who finished with nine points.

The game came down to the final seconds. With Stanford clinging to a two-point lead, Okorie was fouled with two seconds remaining and calmly sank both free throws to seal the four-point victory.

The game was part of a multi-team event in Palm Desert. Stanford will face Saint Louis at the same venue Friday, while Minnesota is set to take on Santa Clara.