Michigan
14-10,8-5Big Ten
Nebraska
11-14,4-10Big Ten
High-Octane Offense Fuels Michigan Win Over Nebraska
2/8/2023 9:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
• Watch: Juwan Howard Postgame Press Conference
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- For the first time since Dec. 6, 2019, six Wolverines scored in double figures as the University of Michigan men's basketball team defeated Nebraska 93-72 on Wednesday night (Feb. 8) at Crisler Center, extending its current win streak to three games.
Leaders and Best
Jett Howard led the way for the Wolverines with a team-high 22 points, while Hunter Dickinson notched his 25th career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Kobe Bufkin continued to fill the stat sheet with 13 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
Turning Point
Michigan ended a stretch of several early lead changes with a 14-0 run behind five straight made field goals. The Wolverines then outscored Nebraska 16-5 over the next five minutes to establish control of the game.
First Half
After six early lead changes, Michigan (14-10, 8-5 Big Ten) used a 14-0 run highlighted by five points from Bufkin to take a 25-12 lead with just under 12 minutes before the break. Nebraska (11-14, 4-10 Big Ten) stopped the run with a three-pointer, but Jace Howard and Dug McDaniel each added triples of their own to spark an 8-0 run for the Wolverines.
Joey Baker countered a Nebraska layup with eight unanswered points behind a pair of three-pointers. Michigan went on to outscore the Cornhuskers 30-5 in a stretch that lasted just over seven minutes, claiming a 41-17 lead with 6:58 remaining.
Nebraska responded with a 17-5 run to close the half, cutting the Wolverines' lead to 46-34. Five U-M players scored at least six points in the first 20 minutes of action, led by Baker's 11.
Second Half
Nebraska outscored Michigan 5-2 in the opening two minutes of the half to cut the U-M lead to single digits. The Wolverines made seven of their next nine shots from the field, including two three-pointers from Jett Howard to reclaim a 19-point lead just before the 12-minute mark.
After a pair of free throws from Tarris Reed Jr., the Cornhuskers went on an 11-0 run, shrinking the Michigan lead to 68-58 with 8:34 to play. Dickinson ended the run with an and-one layup, but NU's Keisei Tominaga made his fourth three-pointer of the game to pull Nebraska back within 10 with seven minutes to play.
With 4:33 left on the clock, the Wolverines put together a 12-0 run behind three-pointers from Howard and Dickinson while Nebraska made just one of its last six field goals and U-M secured the victory.
What's Next
The Wolverines will conclude their homestand against No. 18-ranked Indiana on Saturday (Feb. 11) at Crisler Center. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN.
Notes
• To round out Michigan's double-figure scorers, McDaniel scored 14 points and added four assists, Baker scored 11 points -- all in the first half -- and Terrance Williams II scored 10 points while grabbing five rebounds.
• Dickinson's 25th career double-double ties C.J. Kupec for 11th most all-time among Wolverines.
• Bufkin is averaging 13.7 points, nine rebounds and six assists per game over his last three contests.
• Reed blocked three shots in just eight minutes of first-half playing time.
• The Wolverines tied a season-high with 14 made threes, doing so on five fewer attempts than the matchup with Iowa on Jan. 12.
• With the win, Michigan moves to 22-3 all-time against Nebraska. The Wolverines hold a 12-0 home record against the Cornhuskers.
