Michigan
7-4,1-0Big Ten
North Carolina
9-4,1-1ACC
Michigan Drops Jumpman Invitational Matchup Against North Carolina
12/21/2022 10:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A career-high-tying 22 points from Kobe Bufkin and 17 from Jett Howard were not enough for the University of Michigan men's basketball to overcome North Carolina in an 80-76 setback on Wednesday night (Dec. 21) in the inaugural Jumpman Invitational at the Spectrum Center.
SUMMARY: After a long field-goal drought put Michigan (7-4) behind by as many as nine points late in the second half, Joey Baker and Terrance Williams II each made clutch three-pointers to cut the North Carolina (9-4) lead to two with less than two minutes to play. However, a floater by RJ Davis and a series of free throws for the Tar Heels put the game out of reach.
SECOND HALF: The teams traded buckets to open the second half before a cross-court pass from Dug McDaniel found Williams for an open three that cut the seven-point halftime deficit to four. After a pair of free throws from UNC's Armando Bacot, Howard found Bufkin in the corner for another triple. Bacot continued to score in the paint, and the Wolverines fell behind 55-47 with 14 minutes remaining. Howard knocked down his third three-pointer of the game and grabbed a steal on the other end, but a turnover and North Carolina dunk followed by a Hunter Dickinson offensive foul gave momentum back to the Tar Heels. Bufkin answered with a three off the dribble, and Howard followed up with a putback deuce to bring U-M back within four with just over 10 minutes to play. Michigan struggled through a six-and-a-half-minute field-goal drought, during which UNC was able to extend its lead to as many as nine. A layup from Dickinson ended the drought, and an ensuing triple from Baker cut the Tar Heel advantage to 69-66 with three minutes left in regulation. After a Bacot layup, a three from Williams brought U-M within just two. A Davis floater in the final minute put the Tar Heels back up by two possessions, and near-perfect free-throw shooting by UNC was enough to seal the game despite a late three from Baker.
FIRST HALF: The Wolverines missed their first four shots but responded by making seven of their next eight -- including a pair of Howard three pointers -- to jump out to an early 16-9 lead. A Tarris Reed Jr. put-back layup followed by a smooth floater from Howard helped Michigan stay in front, leading by five at the 10-minute mark. During a Wolverines scoring drought that lasted more than two minutes, a turnover by Dickinson looked like an easy transition layup for UNC, but he hustled back to pin the shot against the backboard. The block led to a pair of free throws for Bufkin to end the dry spell. McDaniel's fast-break layup gave the Wolverines a 26-22 lead with seven minutes to play. North Carolina answered with a 16-4 run, as Caleb Love tied the game at 28 with a three before an and-one layup from Bacot put the Tar Heels on top by seven. A difficult fall-away floater by Bufkin ended three-minute scoreless span, and Michigan ended the half shooting just two-for-11 from the field in the final six minutes before halftime. The Wolverines trailed UNC 41-34 at the break.
WHAT'S NEXT: Michigan will begin a three-game homestand with an in-state matchup against Central Michigan next Thursday (Dec. 29). Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on B1G+.
Notes
• Jett Howard scored in double figures for the ninth straight game and 10th in 11 contests this season. With his three triples, he now has a long-range basket in all 11 games, and leads the Wolverines with 29.
• Kobe Bufkin scored 22 points, pushing his streak of double-figure scoring games to six. During the stretch, he scored 32 points in the first three games (10.7) and 59 (19.7) over the next three.
• Terrance Williams II grabbed a career-high-tying 11 rebounds against the Tar Heels to give him 10+ boards for the second time this season. He now has four games with eight rebounds or more on the year.
• Michigan and North Carolina met for the 10th time in series history and the fifth time in the last six seasons. The Wolverines are 4-6 all-time against the Tar Heels.
