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ANN ARBOR – Dealing late against a huge underdog, Michigan leaned on a freshman to avoid Sunday night’s wrath at the Crisler Center.
Michigan, plagued with bad problems and turnovers, escaped with an overtime victory over Oakland, 81-71.
The Wolverines were 31-point favorites against an Oakland team that came in 0-3 with an average margin of loss of 31 points. The Golden Grizzlies had not led beyond the opening minutes of any game this season, but were down to six in the second half on Sunday.
It was the margin with 11 minutes remaining in regulation time before Hunter Dickinson got to work. The much-vaunted rookie scored his 19 points as of that point, using his 7-foot-1, 255-pound frame to dominate the basket.
Michigan scored the first nine points of overtime – Dickinson’s first six – to improve to 2-0.
Dickinson finished 6 of 8 on the field and 7 of 9 on the foul line, adding four rebounds and four assists. Isaiah Livers, the only other two-figure Wolverine, had 22 points, including a 3 dagger with 1:31 left in overtime.
Dickinson did not start, but he did finish, not exiting the game after entering the aforementioned second period.
Oakland was swept out of the tournament last week at Xavier, losing to host Toledo and Bradley on consecutive days. The schedule had been rocked by COVID-19 earlier in the month, missing a key training time before the start of the season.
Still, the Golden Grizzlies, playing Michigan for the first time since 2011, pushed the Wolverines to 25th overall. Michigan was much less effective than when it opened Wednesday against Bowling Green.
Michigan’s 20 sales figures, including 15 in the first half, were the main reason. The same was true for starting point guard Mike Smith and others. Smith and Livers both committed two faults in the first half.
Jalen Moore led Oakland with 21 points.
After Michigan’s rambling final possession of the settlement resulted in a missed Dickinson jumper, UM went straight back to their oversized rookie. He scored with his left hand (dominant) at the rim. After two saves, Dickinson drew and made both free throws, giving Michigan their biggest lead since the first half.
Universe ‘3 made sure there would be no stunning in Ann Arbor. The senior forward finished 5 of 7 from downtown. Michigan was 8 of 27 as a team.
Michigan struggled against Oakland’s 1-3-1 zone defense. Oakland took its first lead, 10-9, on a 3-point. Michigan responded with 3 consecutive Livers and Eli Brooks. The Wolverines couldn’t back down. They pushed the margin to just eight for Oakland to make a 6-0 run.
It didn’t help that Smith picked up his second foul with 11:24 left in the half and rolled off the bench until half-time.
During a media stop with 3:43 left, TV cameras caught Michigan head coach Juwan Howard slamming his whiteboard in frustration before arguing with Livers, a senior co-captain.
With 2:03 left in the half, the Grizzlies converted their third possession shot to tie the game at 29 and force a time out at Michigan.
After Wagner traveled for Michigan’s 15th overall, Oakland held on for the last shot of the half and scored to take a 33-31 lead.
Michigan took the lead early in the second period, but not for long. Smith drove for a lay-up then found Livers for a transition 3, causing longtime Oakland coach Greg Kampe to take a time out. His team responded with two 3s to move forward 39-36.
Moore’s pullback 3 brought the score to 44-38 in Oakland with 14:47 to go.
Still down by six, Dickinson and fellow freshman Terrance Williams II checked in and gave Michigan a spark. They found each other for baskets. Dickinson missed a 3 with a foul and hit the free throw to make it a one-point game. He gave UM the lead with a powerful move into the heart of the Oakland area.
On a timeout, Oakland beat the shot clock with a tough 3 to come back in front.
Brown’s transition layup tied the game at 59 with 6:21 left. In Michigan’s next possession, Williams found Dickinson for a layup that put Michigan in the lead.
Dickinson’s dunk – Brooks found it this time – went 63-61 in Michigan with 5:03 to go. Oakland kept the pressure on.
Brooks fouled a 3-point shooter – Michigan’s second error – and Moore had two fouls left with 2:46 left to tie the game.
Michigan returned to Dickinson, who used his best skill – passing – to find a sever liver for a layup. Some questionable 3s, followed by Brown’s failed quick break layup, kept Oakland alive. A pair of free throws evened the game, again, with 28 seconds left.
The shot clock was off as Michigan came out of a timeout with a chance to win it in regulation.
Michigan rounded the perimeter, almost flipping it, before the ball found its way into Dickinson’s hands. His elbow sweater hit the back edge. Michigan was heading into overtime for the first time since Jan.9.
The Wolverines have emerged victorious and will have plenty of films to study ahead of Wednesday’s home game against Ball State, a step up in the competition.
Michigan played five “buy” games – in which the home side pays a small school to visit – during Howard’s first season and won them all. Only one of those games, an eight-point win in Game 1, was competitive. Sunday was an unexpected nail biter.
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