Payton Willis scored 17 points on 6 for 8 shooting, including 5-for-6 shooting from 3-point range, and Minnesota cruised to a 79–71 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Tuesday night in Minneapolis. Jamison Battle and E.J. Stephens added 16 points apiece for Minnesota (9–1), which continued its impressive start to the season under first-year head coach Ben Johnson. Eric Curry led the Golden Gophers with 12 rebounds to go along with five points. Terrion Murdix scored 18 points off the bench to lead Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (9–2). Jalen Jackson finished with 15 points, Trevian Tennyson had 11, and Isaac Mushila scored 10. The Golden Gophers led by as many as 26 points early in the second half. Willis connected on a 3-pointer to make it 56–30 with 17:36 remaining. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi responded with a 19–1 run to cut the deficit to 57–49 with 12:18 to go. Jackson and Simeon …