Michigan
31-7
Texas A&M
22-13
Michigan Proves Elite in 27-Point Win over Texas A&M
3/22/2018 10:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
» Michigan made 10 of its 14 three-pointers in the first half.
» Michigan had 14 first-half assists against just one turnover and finished with 21 assists and seven turnovers.
» Michigan has a 57-26 (47-22*) all-time record in the NCAA Tournament
» Michigan's 31 victories this season ties a school record (1992-92, 2012-13) and matches the total by a U-M led Beilein team, which also earned 31 wins in 2012-13.
» Having advanced to its fourth NCAA Sweet 16 in the last six years, the U-M has advanced to its third NCAA Elite Eight appearance in that span.
» Michigan has won 12 straight games -- nine of which have come away from home.
Site: Los Angeles, Calif. (Staples Center)
Event: NCAA Tournament (West Regional Semifinal)
Score: #7 Michigan 99, Texas A&M 72
Records: U-M (31-7), Texas A&M (22-13)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 24 -- vs. Florida State - NCAA Elite Eight (Los Angeles, Calif.), 5:49 p.m. PDT (TV: TBS)
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Playing in front of a raucous, pro-Michigan crowd at the Staples Center on Thursday afternoon (March 22), the third-seeded University of Michigan men's basketball team used a first-half scoring barrage en route to a lopsided 99-72 victory over seventh-seeded Texas A&M. The Wolverines advanced to their third Elite Eight in the past six seasons and will play Florida State on Saturday (March 24) at 5:49 p.m. PDT.
Michigan (31-7) connected on 10 of its 14 three-pointers in the opening half and led by as many as 29 points (52-23), as the Wolverines were too athletic and deep for a Texas A&M (22-13) team that was coming off an impressive 86-65 win over North Carolina on Sunday (March 18).
The Wolverines' 31 victories this season tie a school record (1992-93, 2012-13) and match the total by a Michigan-led John Beilein team that reached the NCAA title game in 2012-13.
Moritz Wagner had 14 first-half points (2-for-2 3PT field goals), Duncan Robinson added 10 (4-for-4 FG, 2-2 3PT), Zavier Simpson tallied nine (4-for-6 FG), and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman had eight points (3-for-6 FG, 2-for-3 3PT) and five assists in the opening session.
Texas A&M never got closer than 18 points the rest of the way as Michigan shot even better in the second half (19-of-28, .679) to finish at 62 percent overall for the game.
After missing its first shot of the game, Michigan connected on four straight -- which included a bank shot from Wagner that was preceded by a behind-the-back dribble move -- to claim an early 9-2 lead. A&M answered on the next possession, but, coming out of the under-16-minute media timeout, Wagner pulled down an offensive rebound and kicked it to Abdur-Rahkman, who drained a triple for a 12-4 lead. Moments later, a strong take off the glass from Abdur-Rahkman made it 16-6, and Ibi Watson connected for a corner triple to force an Aggies timeout with a 19-6 deficit.
At that point U-M was 7-of-14 overall and 3-of-5 from deep, while A&M was flustered by the Wolverines' tenacious defense and shot at a 3-of-11 clip (.273) with four turnovers. After the timeout, A&M finally scored only to be met by another triple, this one from Robinson for a 22-8 advantage. Things soon got even worse for A&M.
Simpson scored five straight points with an uncontested three-pointer, steal and strong layup, Abdur-Rahkman found Wagner wide open at the arc for another triple, and great ball movement then led to a Charles Matthews triple and a 33-12 lead with 8:26 to play. By that point, U-M was 7-of-10 from deep and seven different players contributed. The Wolverines had more assists (nine) than A&M had baskets (five).
Another triple, Michigan's eighth (11 attempts), came from Wagner in the corner, and a hesitation dribble and layup made it 44-18 with under five minutes to play. Abdur-Rahkman matched that lead moments later with another three to make it 49-23. Â Coming out of the under-four-minute media timeout, Robinson struck again on a corner triple for a 29-point U-M lead before A&M scored the final points to make it a 52-28 score at the half.
Michigan logged a 57 percent mark overall (20-of-35) and 62.5 percent from deep (10-of-16) with 14 assists against just one turnover while forcing 10 A&M miscues and turning them into 15 points.
Abdur-Rahkman was sensational, leading Michigan with 24 points (9-16 FG, 4-7 3PT), seven assists and five rebounds. Wagner added 21 points (8-of-12 FG, 3-of-3 3PT) and Matthews logged 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Simpson finished with 11 points (5-of-8 FG) to go with five assists, and Robinson finished with 10.
Eight different Wolverines made a three-point field goal against Texas A&M -- Abdur-Rahkman (4), Wagner (3), Robinson (2), C.J. Baird, Matthews, Jordan Poole, Simpson and Watson) -- to set a school record for most players to make a triple in a NCAA Tournament game.
Texas A&M was led by Tyler Davis' 24 points (11-of-17 FG) and eight rebounds.
