Transfers Garcia, Cooper help Minnesota top Western Michigan

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Dawson Garcia scored 23 points, Ta’lon Cooper had 17 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists and Minnesota edged Western Michigan 61-60 in a season opener. Garcia made a 3-pointer, his third of the game, from the top of the key with 1:54 left to extend Minnesota’s lead to 59-50 and Taurus Samuels made 1 of 2 free throws with 20 seconds left to make it 61-54. Garcia and Cooper are two of three transfers who joined the Gophers this season, with Garcia coming back home to his native state after stints at Marquette and North Carolina. Garcia started 12 of 16 games for the national runner-up Tar Heels before leaving the team at midseason to move home due to family health concerns. Cooper is from Morehead State.