Johnson just didn’t know how ugly it could get.
Dawson Garcia, the team’s leading scorer, was questionable but played Wednesday after missing practice with a groin injury. Starting guard Mike Mitchell Jr., the team’s assist leader, was out with an ankle injury.
Going without Mitchell and with Garcia banged up resulted in an atrocious offensive performance in the first half against North Texas, the Gophers scoring just 14 points and trailing by nine at halftime after shooting 3-for-21.
The worst shooting half in years drew jeers from the Williams Arena crowd and was too much to overcome as the Gophers fell 54-51.
The loss nearly turned into a second straight comeback victory.
Garcia, who finished with 24 points and eight rebounds, scored after an offensive rebound with less than 30 seconds left to pull the Gophers within one, 52-51.
After North Texas missed a free throw, Lu’Cye Patterson’s three-point attempt fell short with eight seconds to play, but the Mean Green appeared to travel grabbing the defensive rebound. The no-call was not met well by Gophers fans, who watched the Gophers give up a transition dunk on the game’s final play.