Michigan bullies Rutgers, makes strong case for nation's top-ranked team

Michigan cruised to yet another victory on Saturday afternoon at Crisler Center. In front of one of the best home crowds in recent Michigan basketball history, the Wolverines outclassed Rutgers to pick up their first conference victory of the season. Morez Johnson Jr. led the way for U-M in the 101-60 win with 22 points.

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To open the game, the Wolverines came out slower than expected, but it didn’t take long for Dusty May’s team to find their rhythm again. By the first media timeout, U-M led by only four points, but by the under-12 TV break, Michigan led by 11 points, quickly establishing a double-digit lead.

Rutgers made a small run coming out of the second media timeout, cutting the lead to seven on multiple occasions, but it was all Michigan from that point on. With 8:19 remaining in the first half, Michigan held onto a 24-17 lead. Over the next five-plus minutes, though, the Wolverines went on an 18-3 run, stretching the lead to 22.

From the 8:19-minute mark, U-M closed the first half on a 26-8 run. Led by Johnson Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan got excellent contributions from its star players, but it also had huge help from its bench.

Johnson Jr. led the way with 15 first-half points, but six other Wolverines logged at least four points in the first 20 minutes. In the second half, the Wolverines continued to fire on all cylinders. Sophomore guard L.J. Cason came alive in the second half, scoring all 11 of his points in the final frame.

A lead that was 25 at the break quickly blossomed to 30, and Michigan even stretched it to 37 with 12 minutes to play in the game. Six Wolverines finished in double figures, and three of those players came off the bench.

Even with quiet nights from starters Aday Mara and Nimari Burnett (a combined nine points), Michigan still dominated the Scarlet Knights, essentially, from start to finish. The Wolverines have the makeup of the best team in the country, and they certainly have passed the eye test thus far.

With the victory, Michigan improves to 8-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten. Up next, Michigan will host Villanova at Crisler Center on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on FS1.

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