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ANN ARBOR – A tough start and a shaky finish for Michigan produced a familiar result: a comfortable victory. Michigan returned to the Crisler Center for the first time in 30 days on Thursday and defeated Rutgers 71-64.
Michigan’s No.3 will visit Ohio State’s No.4 on Sunday afternoon.
If the Wolverines (15-1, 10-1) were taking a look at this game, it didn’t show for much of the night. They used an 8-0 run early in the second half to come back up 15. Rutgers didn’t come close to 11 until the final two minutes, with the game never really questionable down the home stretch.
Franz Wagner led all scorers with 20 points, while adding seven rebounds and three assists on several good drive-and-dish games.
Michigan improved to 14-0 all-time against Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights visited the Crisler Center after scoring five of six wins, but struggled to break through Michigan’s strong defense.
Michigan held Rutgers 3 of 12 from 3 points and 40 percent from the field.
At the other end of the track, Michigan posted three turnovers in the first media deadline, but settled in and finished with just 11 turnovers. (Rutgers had just three in a clean, albeit somewhat squeaky, game.) Hunter Dickinson had 10 points and eight rebounds while Mike Smith scored 12. Isaiah Livers’ hot streak ended, so that he was held to seven points on 3 on 3. -10 shooting.
For Michigan, the game was booked by offensive struggles. Giveaways were the problem early on, with Michigan falling behind by five. After finding a pace to climb back up to 17, Michigan only made one basket nearly 11 minutes behind.
The efficiency of Myles Johnson (13 points) near the basket for Rutgers pushed Michigan to close it. Rutgers fell to 12-8 (8-8).
Michigan have postponed five games in recent weeks before returning to Wisconsin on Sunday, hence the long break between home games. The Wolverines haven’t faced any of the Big Ten’s top contenders yet, but that will change on Sunday. The Buckeyes beat Penn State Thursday 90-80 to move to 12-4 in the conference.
It looked like Michigan could enter this top-five showdown. Smith’s base jumper put Michigan ahead of 17 with 11:52 to go. But the Wolverines went the next 5.5 minutes without scoring, as Rutgers reduced the deficit to 12. Smith’s drive and scoop with 5:08 to go ultimately broke Michigan’s goal drought and carried it. at 59-45.
Rutgers cut the margin to eight three times. Michigan would have earned another double-digit victory if it weren’t for Jacob Young’s 3 over Rutgers’ final possession. Young finished with 16 points, a team high.
The game started with a rarity – a ball held after the ball, which required a second opening trick.
Michigan was disjointed early in the offense, while Rutgers connected on mid-range shots to gain an early advantage.
Smith and Brandon Johns Jr. connected on 3 straight on the opposite corners, capping a 13-2 run that put Michigan ahead 22-15 with 8:39 to go.
Geo Baker, challenged to the rim by Livers, missed a dunk, but it led to a Ron Harper Jr. 3, his first attempt in 23 attempts, which reduced the deficit to four.
Wagner’s 3 pushed him back to seven, 31-24, with 3:55 left in the half. His float from behind the backboard just before halftime gave him nine points and put Michigan at 37-28 at the break.
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