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NCAA approves transfer for former Runnin’ Ute Both Gach to play for Minnesota

(Ralph Fres | AP file photo) Utah guard Both Gach (11) advances the ball up-court while Arizona State's Romello White (23) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Tempe, Ariz., in this Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, file photo. Gach switched schools to be closer to his family during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now at Minnesota, the junior guard has been granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA.

Minneapolis • Minnesota junior guard Both Gach was granted immediate eligibility Monday by the NCAA after he transferred from Utah.

Gach and the Gophers had applied for a waiver to play this season, having switched schools to be closer to his family during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 6-foot-6, 183-pound Gach is from Austin, Minnesota, about 100 miles south of Minneapolis.

The versatile wing will likely start for the Gophers along with another transfer, center Liam Robbins, who also gained NCAA approval to play right away after coming from Drake.

Gach was second on the Utes as a sophomore in scoring at 10.7 points per game. He also averaged 3.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists and shot 39.7% from the field. Gach became the third player in Utah program history to post a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Mississippi Valley State last season.