Many Gophers fans had no problem sharing their opinion of the officiating late in Friday’s 70-69 overtime loss to Southern California at Williams Arena.

Boos echoed inside The Barn many times down the stretch of the Big Ten game, but especially when Langston Reynolds was whistled for a foul call on Chad Baker-Mazara with 10 seconds left in overtime. Reynolds couldn’t believe it; Baker-Mazara went to the line and made the game-tying and game-winning free throws.

Head coach Niko Medved, however, didn’t take that call as a scapegoat and primarily looked inward at his own squad’s defense on that final play.

“I got to see it (again),” he said postgame. “I don’t know. It was probably tough, but again, I’d go back to — they set a high ball screen for him, and we needed to show and try to keep him out of the lane.”

That clear path presented to Baker-Marazar, who had 29 points Friday, was a deciding factor Medved pointed out.

“Sometimes those things happen fast,” Medved said. “I thought we had done a good job in the second half of doing that. In that critical situation, we needed to have somebody else (on the screen and) not let him get downhill in the paint. (Baker-Mazara) worked himself to the line, and he’s really good at it.”

After Cade Tyson’s game-winning shot missed with one second left, Baker-Mazara did a post-game interview with Big Ten Network. And one fan in the rafters of the Barn chanted at him: “Flopper!”

That wasn’t the only call the announced crowd of 9,404 took issue with. Less than four minutes left in regulation, Gophers guard Isaac Asuma was in the middle of another questionable call. One official had him drawing a jump ball with Ezra Asura; the other had a personal foul on Asuma.

They settled on a foul on Ausma. It was his fifth foul, and he was done for the game.

“Isaac fouling out at the end really hurt us,” Medved said. “Another guy who can make a shot. I thought that was a big play.”

If Medved wouldn’t publicly share his view on the officiating in the postgame news conference, he certainly was in the ears of the three-man officiating crew during Friday’s game.

Even shorter

Due to early foul trouble, the Gophers had to play without Jaylen Crocker-Johnson for the final 10 minutes of the first half and Langston Reynolds for the final eight. Then sans Asuma for the final nine of regulation and OT.

That’s on top of two starters — guard Chansey Willis and center Robert Vaihola — out for the season with injuries.

It put even more on the shoulders of Cade Tyson and Bobby Durkin. They both played 45 minutes, and Tyson was clearly tired at the end. It showed in game-winning shot attempts at the end of the second half and the extra session.

Musselman returns

USC coach Eric Musselman said Friday was his first trip back at The Barn since he was 11 years old in 1975 and his father Bill Musselman was in his final year as the Gophers’ head coach.

“I’m sure it was really cool for him, too, knowing the history of his dad, getting an opportuntity to be back here and coach in the Big Ten,” Medved said.

Scheme shift?

The Trojans decided to not closely guard Reynolds nor Grayson Grove outside the arc, not respecting them as 3-point shooters and opting to try to take away Minnesota’s desire to get open shots in the paint off back cuts.

Musselman even joked to KSTP-TV that his mom pointed out that he can’t let the U beat the Trojans that way.

The Gophers could see more of that sagging defensive look in its remaining 15 Big Ten games.

Briefly

Wisconsin will be riding high when it comes to Minneapolis for Tuesday’s game. The Badgers upset second-ranked Michigan 91-88 in Ann Arbor on Saturday afternoon. … With Friday’s loss, Minnesota squandered a chance to start Big Ten play with a 4-1 record for the first time since the 2008-09 season. … Gophers incoming freshman guard Cedric Tomes poured in 50 points in East Ridge’s 86-79 win over Totino-Grace a week ago. “That was fun to see,” Medved said. “Michael Jordan had the ‘double nickel,’ so I don’t know what you call the 50. That’s impressive. Ced can really score. He’s quick. He’s confident.”

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – JANUARY 09: Chad Baker-Mazara #4 of the Southern California Trojans drives to the basket against Isaac Asuma #1 and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson #5 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the second half at Williams Arena on January 09, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Trojans defeated the Golden Gophers 70-69 in overtime. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

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Andrea Merrell was tough and brave, put the safety of others first and had a lifelong commitment to helping and protecting others, say those who loved her.

The 43-year-old North Branch woman died last month after being attacked by a patient during her Christmas Day shift as a security guard at M Health Fairview Hospital in Wyoming, Minn. She had worked there since April. Along with working at the hospital, Merrell also worked in loss prevention at a Cambridge Fleet Farm since 2021.

“Helping and serving others was simply who she was,” said friends Heather Miller and Pam Heaton in a joint statement. “Andrea Merrell was one of the kindest and most selfless people we have ever known.”

Left to right: Andrea Merrell, Heather Miller and Pam Heaton together on Christmas 2024 in Stacy, Minn. (Courtesy of Heather Miller)

The trio met in a high school band class 30 years ago in Chisago City and had been “inseparable” since then, Heaton and Miller said. The three graduated in 2001.

Friend Troy Schmidt said that Merrell was a friend to everyone, and was tough, brave and put everyone else’s safety first.

“She gave so much to others,” he said. “She was one in a million and her passing has left a huge hole in the hearts of those who loved her and made the world a lot less brighter.”

Merrell also “deeply loved” her three cats, who were like children to her, and also treated her friends’ children like her own, Heaton and Miller said.

Cassi Lorey said when Merrell dated her father several years ago, the two formed a close relationship.

“She became a very special person to me,” Lorey said. From the day Lorey and her siblings met Merrell, the older woman showed them “grace, love, kindness” and care.

The two shared many fishing adventures together and spent countless nights laughing and talking about life, she said.

“I couldn’t ask for a better hero in my life, someone I’d look up to (because) no matter how many curves got thrown at Andrea, she persevered (and) showed me that you will make it and it will be (OK) at the end of the day. … She was someone I could feel safe with and never have to question if she would have my back.”

Merrell’s death leaves an aching hole that can never be filled, Miller and Heaton wrote.

“We carry a million happy memories with us, but life will never be the same without her. Andrea was our best friend, and we miss her more than words can say,” the two friends wrote.

Authorities say that police were called to the Wyoming hospital on Dec. 25 after a man on a medical hold ran away. Authorities found Merrell unconscious in the parking lot and the patient, Jonathan Chet Winch, 35, of Chisago City, nearby. Winch allegedly told police, “I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

Merrell later died of her injuries.

Winch was charged with one count of second-degree murder and is being held in lieu of $2 million bail.

An online fundraiser in Merrell’s honor had raised more than $8,200 as of Saturday afternoon.

Merrell’s memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at the Lindstrom Community Center at 13292 Sylvan Ave. in Lindstrom.

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The Gophers added another defensive tackle in the transfer portal with Florida International’s Xion Chapman committing to the U on Saturday.

Chapman is the 17th player to commit to the U since the portal opened one week ago and the second after Naquan Crowder joined from Marshall on Tuesday.

Chapman, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound player from Allentown, Pa., visited Penn State on Tuesday before touring Minnesota later in the week. He was scheduled to go to Oklahoma State this weekend.

With two years of eligibility left, Chapman totaled 15 tackles, three for lost yards, two sacks and a forced fumble in 12 games last season. He played at Lackawanna junior college in 2024.

Pro Football Focus charted 23 total pressures for Champion in 202 pass-rush snaps. He played 315 total, with a solid 73.4 overall grade and a stronger 78.5 pass-rush mark.

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The Gophers added another defensive tackle in the transfer portal with Florida International’s Xion Chapman committing to the U on Saturday.

Chapman is the 17th player to commit to the U since the portal opened one week ago and the second D-tackle after Naquan Crowder from Marshall on Tuesday.

Chapman, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound player from Allentown, Pa., visited Penn State on Tuesday before touring Minnesota later in the week. He was scheduled to go to Oklahoma State this weekend.

With two years of eligibility left, Chapman totaled 15 tackles, three for lost yards, two sack and a forced fumble in 12 games last season. He played at Lackawanna junior college in 2024.

Pro Football Focus charted 23 total pressures for Chapman in 202 pass-rush snaps. He played 315 tota snaps last season, with a solid 73.4 overall grade and a stronger 78.5 pass-rush mark.

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