Michigan Kicks Off Homestand with Overtime Victory Against Ohio
11/20/2022 11:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A buzzer-beater at the end of regulation pushed the No. 20-ranked University of Michigan men's basketball team and the visiting Ohio Bobcats to overtime on Sunday night (Nov. 20) at Crisler Center, where the Wolverines eventually claimed a hard-fought 70-66 victory.
SUMMARY: A pair of late free throws from Kobe Bufkin put Michigan ahead with 2.1 seconds remaining in regulation, but Ohio's Dwight Wilson sank an incredible buzzer-beater as time expired in the second half to force overtime. A clutch three from Jett Howard and late free throws from Jaelin Llewellyn and Terrance Williams II in the extra period were just enough to give Michigan a 70-66 win over the Bobcats.
OVERTIME: The Wolverines (4-1) opened the extra period with a score from Hunter Dickinson, which was followed quickly by a Howard three. Ohio (1-3) responded with a basket and a free throw with a minute remaining to pull within two, but timely free throws from Llewellyn and Williams II along with strong defense down the stretch helped Michigan claim a four-point overtime victory.
SECOND HALF: Three-pointers from Williams II and Llewellyn followed by a one-handed jam from Howard allowed Michigan to build momentum and expand its lead to six with 14 minutes to play. Ohio answered by outscoring the Wolverines 16-4 over the next five minutes and reclaiming a 53-47 lead. After a dry spell from the field that saw Michigan go 1-for-10, U-M pulled within two (57-55) on a jumper from Kobe Bufkin and a three from Williams II. With five minutes on the clock, four unanswered points from Ohio put the Bobcats up six, but a 6-0 Michigan rally helped erase the lead for a 61-61 tie score with 1:09 to play. The teams traded turnovers before Bufkin was fouled with two seconds remaining in regulation. He knocked down two clutch free throws to put Michigan ahead, but Ohio scored at the buzzer on a full court inbounds pass to force overtime.
FIRST HALF: Turnovers and long-range misses hurt the Wolverines early. Behind four quick points off Michigan turnovers, Ohio took an early 8-5 lead and forced head coach Juwan Howard to call a timeout. While a post score from Howard and a three-pointer from Bufkin kept Michigan close, the Wolverines trailed 12-16 midway through the half. After falling behind 27-21 due to a series of Ohio three-pointers, Dickinson scored 12 points during a 12-2 Michigan run in the final three minutes of the half, including a buzzer-beating three to put the Wolverines on top at halftime, 33-31.
WHAT'S NEXT: The Wolverines will host Jackson State on Wednesday (Nov. 23) at Crisler Center. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network with tip-off scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
Notes
• Hunter Dickinson recorded his 19th career double-double (24 points, 14 rebounds). He is now tied with current head coach Juwan Howard for 18th most all-time among Wolverines.
• Dickinson knocked down his first three-pointers of the 2022-23 season. He made 21 threes last season behind 32.8 percent shooting from behind the arc.
• Jett Howard recorded his fourth game with 10-plus points this season and is now averaging 14.6 points per game.
• Howard also swatted a career-best and team-high four blocks, tallying the most blocks by a Wolverine in a single game this season.
• With the win, the Wolverines improved to 4-1 all-time against Ohio.