The Gophers men’s basketball team had plenty of chances to beat Ohio State on Monday, but at the end of regulation and to close the first overtime, Minnesota’s own mishaps allowed the Buckeyes to outlast them, 89-88, in a double-overtime defeat at Williams Arena. Up 64-62 in regulation, Gophers veteran Parker Fox was trying to help deny a 3-point attempt, but said he got “burned” in leaving Buckeyes forward Devin Royal open near the basket. His dunk tied the game with 5 seconds left. Dawson Garcia committed his fifth foul on the play, giving Royal a chance for the winning free-throw. But he missed it, and two Buckeyes couldn’t convert on two more shot attempts, a baseline jumper and a putback. The Gophers lucked out there. Then up 73-71 late in the first overtime, inexperienced U forward Kadyn Betts intentionally fouled in the backcourt, allowing the Buckeyes’ John Mobley Jr. to tie the game with two free throws to force the second OT. The Gophers (8-7, 0-4 Big Ten) shot an abysmal 12 for 29 from the free-throw line (44%), while Ohio State (10-5, 2-2) was able to hang around by making 29 of 33 (88%). Mike Mitchell, who was 91% from the line this season, missed two from the stripe with six seconds left in the first overtime. On the self-inflicted issues, head coach Ben Johnson first pointed to the free throws and said Betts foul was a “mental error.” The loss dropped Minnesota to 0-4 start in Big Ten play for the first time since 2022-23, when the Gophers finished conference play with a 2-17 record .Minnesota will now go on the road for three of their next four games, starting with Wisconsin (12-3, 2-2) in Madison on Friday night. “It’s hard when you are trying to find your groove and you got a game and a situation where it is right there,” Johnson said. “You want it for the guys so they can get the confidence and get rewarded. That is what makes it tough.” Fox scored 21 points, his best in a Gophers uniform, and that included a baseline floater with a minute left in overtime. Lu’Cye Patterson had 20, while Mitchell and true freshman Isaac Asuma each had 18. All four of them played more than 40 minutes and their contributions helped make up for Garcia’s five points on 2-of-9 shooting. The Gophers were locked in a close game with No. 20 Purdue for 30 minutes on Thursday before falling apart in a 20-point loss. On Monday, Minnesota was competitive for all 40 minutes, and then 10 more. Given the three blowouts to start Big Ten play, that could have been seen an improvement before the costly blunders occurred. Briefly Gophers and Buckeyes players wore pregame shooting shirts to raise awareness in finding a cure for ALS and the Hoops for ALS cause. Former Gophers forward Jim Shikenjanski’s wife Rebecca was diagnosed with ALS in 2022 and passed away Nov. 30; he shared her story at halftime on KTLK-AM. The Stillwater family has four children, including Max, a quarterback on the U’s football team. … Femi Odukale had a scary moment in the second half. After a drive to the basket, the senior guard’s momentum took him off The Barn’s raised floor. His ribs crashed into a metal railing. He stayed down for a minute and then went to bench, not returning to the court until the second overtime. Related Articles College Sports | Gophers men’s basketball seeks ‘breakthrough game’ against Ohio State College Sports | Men’s basketball: Gophers blown out by Boilermakers after hanging tough in first half College Sports | Gophers hope a healthy Mike Mitchell can produce upswing in Big Ten play College Sports | Gophers’ blowout of Morgan State underscores U’s weak nonconference slate College Sports | After ugly first half, Gophers pull away for a 74-60 win over Fairleigh Dickinson