Hunter Dickinson-led Michigan fights but falls at Purdue, 82-76
Michigan fell behind early against Purdue in a raucous environment, but to their credit, the Wolverines never quit. The Boilermakers jumped out to an early double-digit lead before Michigan made a run, but U-M wilted in the second half to fall to 5-5 in Big Ten play with an 82-76 loss.
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Purdue big man Zach Edey was a tough matchup early He scored 13 points in the first 14 minutes, with the Boilers working the offensive glass against a Michigan zone for second chances. Purdue notched eight offensive rebounds in the first half and raced to leads of 17-6 and 20-8.
The Mackey Arena crowd about blew the roof off.
But Michigan stepped it up defensively and started hitting some shots. Sophomore Terrance Williams provided a spark off the bench. He came in at 12:32 of the first half and scored four points on a baseline drive, followed by a contested jumper.
Michigan guard Eli Brooks’ triple cut it to five midway through the first half, and it was a game again.
But U-M had no answer for Edey with Dickinson on the bench. He scored four straight in answering a Michigan run.
The three-ball kept Michigan in it. Frosh Kobe Bufkin’s triple made it 26-20. A corner three from Brandon Johns made it 30-25. Dickinson from the top twice made it 32-31 in an outstanding comeback.
Purdue took a 39-33 lead into the half, but Michigan was right there thanks in large part to Dickinson’s’ 12 points. Purdue didn’t notch a single foul in the first half while most of Michigan’s opportunities came on the perimeter.
Michigan hangs, but falls down the stretch
Michigan opened the second half with a jumper from Dickinson A Caleb Houstan triple and an Eli Brooks drive and finish make it 41-40, and U-M was right in it.
Dickinson hit another long two and a bucket inside to keep it a one-point game.
Jaden Ivey, though, went to work for the Boilers. He had only six points at the half, but scored eight in the first five minutes of the second.
The Boilers went up 53-44 at 14:27 when Michigan went cold, forcing a U-M timeout.
Houstan finally stopped a run with a runner at 13:30, but the Wolverines were going to have to dig out of a hole. The frosh hit a triple to cut it to 56-49 at 12:40, but the Boilers continued to respond to keep Michigan at arm’s length. They led by 10 or 11 for a significant stretch.
But sophomore Jace Howard gave the Wolverines a spark in the press. The Michigan defense continued to force turnovers, and two free throws from Brooks and a half-hook from Dickinson cut it back to 68-63.
The Wolverines had a chance to cut it to three, but gave up an Ivey second-chance opportunity after a Trevion Williams missed free throw.
Still, they didn’t quit. DeVante’ Jones hit a corner three in front of the Michigan bench cut it to 76-72. But the Wolverines faded down the stretch. Dickinson turned it over twice down the stretch and Purdue closed it out from the line.
Dickinson finished with 28 points to lead the Wolverines. Jones and Houstan added 11 each.
