Michigan
14-11,8-6Big Ten
Indiana
18-7,9-5Big Ten
Late Scoring Pushes Hoosiers Past Wolverines
2/11/2023 9:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Despite a valiant effort that produced a late lead for the Wolverines, the University of Michigan men's basketball team fell to No. 18-ranked Indiana, 62-61, on Saturday night (Feb. 11) at U-M's Crisler Center.
Leaders and Best
Hunter Dickinson posted team-bests in points (16), rebounds (seven) and blocks (3). Kobe Bufkin and Jett Howard each reached double figures with 14 and 12 points, respectively, and Tarris Reed Jr. scored a career-high eight points and added five rebounds.
Turning Point
With a three-point lead and five minutes to play, Michigan (14-11, 8-6 B1G) was held scoreless for the rest of the game, missing its last four field goals. Indiana (18-7, 9-5 B1G) only scored four points during the stretch, but it was enough to hand the Wolverines their first loss in the month of February and snap a three-game win streak.
Second Half
Indiana opened the half with a 7-2 run to briefly take a 40-39 lead before an and-one layup from Dickinson put U-M back in front with 16 minutes to play. Jett Howard followed up with a step-back three, giving the Wolverines a five-point lead.
After Michigan grew its lead as high as seven, Indiana went on an 8-0 run and regained a one-point lead. Reed answered with another and-one layup and reclaimed the edge for the Maize and Blue, who led 56-54 with eight minutes remaining.
Each team went cold from the floor, shooting a combined 15 percent (two-for-13) from the field over the next four minutes. A hook shot from Dickinson was enough to give the Wolverines a three-point lead with four minutes left in regulation.
Indiana scored four unanswered points out of the under-four media timeout, taking a 62-61 lead while Michigan still struggled from the field, missing its next four attempts. After a missed IU free throw, U-M called timeout with eight seconds on the clock and trailing by one. Howard's last-second shot attempt fell short, and Indiana defeated the Wolverines, 62-61. Neither team scored in the final three minutes of the game.
First Half
After quickly falling behind 4-0, the Wolverines made four straight field goals and had a 10-6 lead at the first media break. Dickinson then drained a three-pointer out of the timeout to grow the margin to seven. After IU pulled within two, Michigan went on a 6-0 run capped off by a two-handed dunk from Dickinson, taking a 21-13 lead at the 12:33 mark.
The Wolverines did not allow an Indiana field goal for over five minutes, stretching their lead to 10 after a pair of buckets from Howard. IU's Miller Kopp answered with a three, but Kobe Bufkin made two layups that put Michigan ahead, 32-21, with 6:27 before halftime.
The Hoosiers outscored U-M 12-5 over the last six minutes of the first half, cutting the Wolverine lead to 37-33 at the break. Michigan forced seven Indiana turnovers in the first half and only allowed one made three-pointer.
What's Next
Michigan will travel to Madison for a Big Ten road matchup with Wisconsin on Tuesday (Feb. 14) at the Kohl Center. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
Notes
• With three blocks, Hunter Dickinson became the third Wolverine to amass 40 blocks in three straight seasons.
• Kobe Bufkin reached double figures for the fourth straight game. The sophomore is averaging 12.3 points per game.
• Jett Howard made two three-pointers, giving him multiple threes in 21 of 24 career games. Howard ranks second in the Big Ten in total three-pointers made, with 67 on the season.
• Dug McDaniel collected five rebounds. Despite standing just 5'11, the freshman has grabbed at least four rebounds in 10 games this season.
