MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Junior guard Caleb Williams (Wild Rose, Wis./Wild Rose) scored 23 of his 41 points in the first half, as the Macalester College men's basketball team played the University of Minnesota in an exhibition game Thursday night in Williams Arena. In an exciting and fun evening for Scots fans, the Gophers came away with a 97-73 victory.

Early on, Macalester used the three-pointer to stay ahead of Minnesota. Williams hit a pair of threes to score eight of the Scots' first 11 points to lead 11-5, then threes from first year guard Kaden Holdbrook (Palo Alto, Calif./Gunn) and sophomore guard Eric Wentz (Minot, N.D./Minot) put Macalester on top, 17-9 at the 12:47 mark. As the Gophers started to heat up offensively, Williams continued to score, keeping the Scots ahead as late as seven minutes left in the half. With Macalester leading 25-24, Minnesota closed out the half with a 21-9 run to take a 45-36 advantage into the halftime break. Williams was 8-of-15 from the field, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, in the first half.

The second half belonged to the Gophers. After three Williams free throws made the score 53-41, Minnesota went on a 26-11 run to put the game away, 79-52. Williams exited the game with 2:32 remaining and received an ovation from the Williams Arena crowd. The two-time All-Region and All-MIAC guard was 14-of-31 overall and 5-of-12 from three-point range to finish with 41 points and five rebounds. He eclipsed his career high of 39 points from last year's game at Concordia on Feb. 1. Junior guard Coby Gold (Denver, Colo./Kent Denver) hit three three-pointers and finished with 14 points, five boards and four assists, while Holdbrook also made three from deep en route to 11 points and a team-best five assists. Joshua Ola-Joseph led the Gophers with 21 points.

Macalester begins the regular season on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at home against UW-Superior. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.