There would be no second half slump for Michigan basketball, no matter how hard it tried.
Maybe there were a lot of good vibes in the air.
The collapsing Wolverines saw a 12-point lead evaporate in less than 4 minutes in the second half, as Ohio State’s 16–0 run pushed them to a four-point lead. But UM battled back and won 73-65 with an 18-6 kick Monday afternoon at Crisler Center.
“I feel like we just played together,” Terrance Williams II said of the difference in holding the lead this time after blowing double-digit leads in each of the last two games. “That’s what got us to the finish line today, playing together and really defending and rebounding together.
“We knew it was going to be a game of runs. So they ran theirs, we ran ours early, then they definitely ran theirs, so we just had to keep it up and finish it off… During this time we did not bow our heads, we remained together, we remained connected.”
Michigan (7-10, 2-4 Big Ten) ended its five-game losing streak in the process and extended its winning streak over Ohio State (12-5, 2-5 Big Ten) to three games , which is similar to the previous game. Gridiron.
All good: Chris Webber explains how the Fab Five fixed the issues, why they all returned to the Chrysler Center
Frankly, it’s been that kind of week in Metro Detroit sports.
Last Monday, the Michigan football team won its first national championship in 26 years and celebrated at Crisler Center less than 48 hours before Monday’s tipoff. The Detroit Lions got their first playoff win in 32 years on Sunday evening.
And then on Monday afternoon, without much fanfare ahead of time, UM basketball’s most famous quintet – the Fab Five – reunited under the Crisler Center roof for the first time since they were on the same team three decades ago.
They got UM’s first win since defeating Eastern Michigan on December 16, including a game-high 20 points, six rebounds and four assists from Olivier Nkamahoua, along with 18 points on 3-of-5 shooting from Williams. Pointers, including a dagger from the left corner with 33 seconds left, and 15 points from Doug McDaniel to put UM up 72–65.
Howard said of the Fab Five reunion, “I still get emotional seeing my brothers on that day, which is such a special day when you need them the most.” “When you have a team that is playing as hard as ours and winning game after game, sometimes doubts creep into your mind because you have human emotions.
“But to see a group of brothers who have worn that jersey before, gone through tough times, walk through that door and see them uplift and inspire the way they did today with their presence. Was special and it was special to be different.”
No road was dug: Michigan’s leading scorer Doug McDaniel suspended indefinitely for road games
The above shooting was largely the difference, as UM shot 12-of-23 from long range (52.2%), while Ohio State shot a season-worst 3-25 (12%).
It looked like Michigan might be headed for the win when Williams was able to make one of those 3-pointers to go up 55-43 with 11:46 to play, only for Ohio State to go on to its best performance ever. For. Dale Bonner made a layup, Bruce Thornton hit consecutive buckets in the paint and made a free throw, followed by two Roddy Gale Jr. free throws, two Felix Okpara layups and a 3-ball form Thornton put the Buckeyes up 59–55 with 7 to play. Made ahead of. :58 to play.
“It wasn’t perfect, that 16-0 run is something we have to do a better job of eliminating earlier,” Nkamahoua said of the afternoon. “These types of runs can be very dangerous.”
But on this day, UM responded with a 12-4 run when Nkamahoua hit a mid-range jumper, then Nimari Burnett buried a long ball inches ahead of the Fab Five to take a one-point lead. After OSU retook the lead 61–60, Williams sank a 3-pointer with 3:37 left to put UM ahead 63–61 and never looked back.
Unlike many other times this season when the Wolverines have blown a lead straight away, Michigan came up with consecutive stops on defense, leading to a McDaniel transition layup and then a pair of free throws by Tyrese Reed Jr. to make it 67–61. Gave. ,
Reed has made 21 of 28 free throw attempts (75%) over the last eight games after making 9 of 25 (36%) over his first nine games. The Buckeyes came within 69-65 in the final minute, but got no closer when Williams made a 3 from the left corner to seal the crucial win.
The stars met again: Jalen Rose, Chris Webber and the Fab Five together to watch Michigan-Ohio State
“I mean they were trying to draw a foul, we needed to make a shot and it was wide open,” he said. “I practice it every day, it’s a regular shot for me, so I took it, made it.”
Michigan will host No. 14 Illinois on Thursday before traveling to No. 2 Purdue on Jan. 23. Both teams are at the top of the Big Ten, which could be a tall task, or could be for some resume-winning wins; Although Howard won’t think about that until Tuesday.
“We’re going to enjoy it,” Howard said after securing his team’s first win in 30 days. “Then go back to work tomorrow and work on our next scout, next opponent.”
