Betts avoided early foul trouble to finish with 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Bruins (16-1, 6-0) remained undefeated in Big Ten play and ran their winning streak to 10 consecutive games. Their only loss was to No. 4 Texas in Las Vegas on November 26.
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Rice hit all three of his 3-point attempts to make the Gophers pay for packing the paint, as the Bruins shot 60% from the floor (27 of 45) against the nation’s best defensive team. UCLA had by far the highest final score in a regulation game this season against Minnesota, allowing an average of 51.8 points per game entering the night.
The Gophers lost 100-99 in double overtime to then-No. 7 Maryland on December 7. They beat then-No. 21 USC 63-62 on Sunday for the program’s first win over a ranked team since 2019.
Amaya Battle scored 16 points and Mara Braun added 15 points for the Gophers (12-5, 3-3), who forced 17 turnovers but managed just three fast-break points.
While the Bruins have endured a challenging start to their Big Ten schedule, Betts has been a force all over the court, and especially around the basket.
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The AP Preseason All-American had 18 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and four blocks Sunday in a win over now No. 24 Nebraska, one of four opponents ranked in the AP Top 25 at the time of the game and one of UCLA’s four road games in a six-game stretch that began after the break.
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UCLA hosts No. 12 Maryland on Sunday, when Minnesota plays at Washington.
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