Michigan
13-9,4-7Big Ten
Ohio State
15-7,5-6Big Ten
Michigan Takes Close Loss to Ohio State
2/4/2020 10:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
» Michigan fell to Ohio State, 61-58, at Crisler Center on Tuesday night.
» Zavier Simpson tallied five assists on the night, pushing his career total to 603.
» With his one block, Jon Teske reached 150 blocks in his Michigan career.
» Austin Davis scored a career-high 11 points.
» Franz Wagner grabbed 14 rebounds.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Center)
Score: Ohio State 61, Michigan 58
Records: U-M (13-9, 4-7 B1G), OSU (15-7, 5-6 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 8 -- vs. No. 16 Michigan State (Crisler Center), Noon (TV: Fox)
• Watch: Coach Howard Postgame Press Conference
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In a game that featured 19 lead changes and nine ties, the University of Michigan men's basketball team fell to Ohio State, 61-58, on Tuesday night (Feb. 4) at Crisler Center.
Free throws down the stretch helped OSU close out the game, and a last-second attempt for the Wolverines bounced off the rim and out in the loss.
Senior guard Zavier Simpson led all Michigan scorers with 15 points and senior forward Austin Davis added a career-high 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting from the field. Freshman Franz Wagner pulled in a career-high 14 rebounds.
Simpson became just the second Wolverine to surpass 600 career assists, dishing out five helpers to bring his career total to 603. Also hitting a career milestone was senior Jon Teske, who blocked one shot to bring his career total to 150.
The Wolverines dominated on the glass, outrebounding Ohio State, 42-31, including 12 offensive boards that they turned into 17 second-chance points.
Brandon Johns Jr. opened the scoring by sinking a three-pointer from the corner just under two minutes into the game. The teams traded buckets until the first media timeout, at which point the game was knotted up at 5-5.
Ohio State then took a 16-7 lead on the heels of an 11-2 run over the next 5:20 that was stopped by an and-one Davis dunk with 8:52 to play in the first half. Michigan worked to close its deficit to six, 18-12, with 7:26 to play in the opening half.
After a pair of free throws by Wagner, a fast-break layup by sophomore David DeJulius, and a three-pointer by Johns -- his second of the night -- the Maize and Blue narrowed the deficit to two points, 21-19, with 5:43 minutes remaining in the first.
Following the Johns three, both teams went scoreless until a Wagner triple at the 3:31 remaining gave U-M its first lead since the 16:05 mark of the first half, but the Buckeyes quickly recaptured the lead, 24-22, with a Justin Ahrens three-pointer on the ensuing possession. At the end of the first half, Michigan trailed, 28-27.
Johns led the Maize and Blue with eight points at halftime and Wagner chipped in eight rebounds. Michigan shot 5-for-5 from the free throw line in the first half.
The Wolverines and Buckeyes started the second half on a cold streak, with neither team scoring until a Wagner three-pointer 2:07 into the stanza gave Michigan a 30-28 lead. However a pair of OSU buckets put them back on top, 33-30, with 16;18 on the clock.
The three ball continued to work for U-M with Simpson draining one to put Michigan up, 38-36, with just under 13 minutes to play.
Simpson kept on pouring it in as he hit another three-pointer and a fast-break layup to give Michigan a 47-46 lead with 6:28 remaining and force an Ohio State timeout.
The teams battled back and forth and the lead changed hands seven times over the final five minutes of regulation.
With 33 seconds to play and trailing, 57-56, Simpson was fouled on a driving layup attempt. However he was assessed a flagrant foul on the play as well, which gave OSU two free throws and possession of the ball. He sank both free throws to give Michigan a 58-57 lead, but Young made his free throws to take the lead right back, 59-58.
The Wolverines conclude the week they welcome No. 16-ranked Michigan State to Crisler Center for a Saturday-afternoon contest. Opening tipoff is scheduled for noon, and the game will be broadcast live on Fox.
