Michigan
6-5,1-1Big Ten
Eastern Michigan
5-5,0-0MAC
Nkamhoua Leads Way for Michigan in Victory Over Eastern Michigan
12/16/2023 5:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Olivier Nkamhoua scored 11 of his team-leading 17 points in the second half and helped the University of Michigan men's basketball team earn an 83-66 win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday (Dec. 16) at Crisler Center.
Leaders and Best
U-M had five players in double figures, led by Nkamhoua's 17 points. He also grabbed nine rebounds to eclipse the 500 mark for his career. Nimari Burnett scored 14 points, including a trio of three-pointers. Terrance Williams II's 13 points helped him surpass 500 career points, while Tarris Reed Jr. went for 13 points off the bench and pulled in eight rebounds. Dug McDaniel was the fifth Wolverine in double figures, as he dropped 11 points.
First Half
The deep ball was the key to success for Michigan (6-5) early in the game as U-M went on a 14-2 run, turning a 4-2 deficit to a 16-6 lead over the span of four and a half minutes. The run was powered by a pair of three-pointers from Burnett, a three from Williams and a triple from McDaniel.
Midway through the half, the Eagles (5-6) inched closer and came within four points of U-M at 21-17. Michigan managed to maintain and eventually extend the advantage with a free-throw line jumper by Tray Jackson putting the Wolverines up 28-19 with 8:32 left in the first half.
A 7-0 run capped off by a McDaniel fast break layup gave U-M a 35-23 lead with 4:49 on the clock, and the Wolverines closed the half making six of their last eight field goals to take a 49-32 lead into the break.
Second Half
Michigan was outscored 9-5 over the first five minutes of the second half, with Nkamhoua responsible for U-M's points during the stretch, but the Wolverines still led 54-41.
Later in the half, EMU capitalized on Wolverines turnovers and with a 6-0 run, moved within 10, 59-49, with 10 minutes to go. The Wolverines quickly built the lead back 15 thanks to a three-pointer from Jackson and a layup by Reed. U-M led 64-49 with 9:14 left in the half.
Over the next five minutes, U-M made nine of its next 10 field goals and went on a 6-0 run over the course of a minute to lead the Eagles 80-61 with 4:02 remaining. Michigan held EMU to just five points to close out the game 83-66.
What's Next
U-M will travel to Charlotte, N.C., to face Florida at the Jumpman Invitational on Tuesday (Dec. 19) at 7 p.m. at the Spectrum Center. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN.
Notes
• Reed is 8-for-10 from the free-throw line over the last two games and has scored in double figures in back-to-back games.
• With his 11 points, McDaniel has scored in double figures in all 11 games this season.
• Michigan trailed for 48 seconds, the score was tied for only 55 seconds.
• U-M now leads 25-3 in the all-time series in games played in Ann Arbor. Overall, the Wolverines lead 29-3.
