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 o n 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) Related Articles Gophers fall in overtime, 70-69 to Southern California Men’s basketball: As roster dwindled, Gophers connected Gophers hold off late rally and upset No. 19 Iowa When Gophers men’s basketball wins a road game, it’s snack time Men’s basketball: Gophers second-half surge leads to 84-78 win at Northwestern ...read more read less