Michigan stuns Ohio State, 75-69, without Hunter Dickinson
Michigan entered at game at Ohio State needing a win to essentially secure an NCAA Tournament bid. They found out early they’d have to do it without center Hunter Dickinson, out with a stomach ailment.
The shorthanded Wolverines played hard from the outset, overcame a seven-point halftime deficit and probably earned their ticket to the Big Dance with a 75-69 victory.
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The two teams came out hot offensively. There were seven lead changes in the first five minutes alone and 13 for the half.
It was all hands on deck for the Wolverines in the first half to keep it close. Four straight points from backup guard Frankie Colins put the Wolverines up 17-16 at 9:45.
But Caleb Houstan struggled to find the range in the first half, and so did his teammates. Houstan was 0-for-6 from the floor, 0-for2 from long range and didn’t score in the first 20 minutes. Fifth-year senior Eli Brooks notched only two points on 1-for-5 shooting.
Michigan sophomore Terrance Williams stepped up with 11 first half points to help the cause. He tied it at 20 at 8:15 with a long three from the top to keep it close. U-M drew only one defensive foul in the first half (away from the ball) despite taking it to the rim, not going to the line once.
Still, Michigan kept it close. Williams hit his second triple at 6:30 to give Michigan the lead back, 23-22. OSU big man EJ Liddell, though, answered with five straight points to put the Buckeyes up four at 4:30. Williams answered with his third three of the half to keep it close.
Joey Brunk scored six straight to make it 35-28, its biggest lead at 1:30, and OSU took a 37-30 lead into the break after Williams’ jumper ended the half for Michigan.
Michigan struggled shooting again, going only 35.1 percent from the floor (13-for-37) and 4-for-12 from long range. OSU shot 55.6 percent and 4-for4-8 from three-point range.
The Buckeyes owned the paint without Dickinson, outscoring the Wolverines 20-10 inside.
Second half: Michigan opens a big lead, hangs on
Michigan scored the first four points of the second half on buckets inside by DeVante’ Jones and Brooks, and the Wolverines were in business. A Brooks triple at 15:50 off a Jones steal in transition tied it at 39.
U-M took the lead t 14:50 on a Jones triple, the game’s 14th lead change. Jones put them up 45-43 with another three-pointer, and it was 47-43 after two Brandon Johns free throws.
Michigan was battling as though its season depended on it. The Wolverines stook their biggest lead, 51-44, on a pair of Williams free throws. It was 53-44 after a Brooks layup, 56-44 after three Brooks free throws after being fouled on a triple from the top.
The Buckeyes ended a long scoring drought and cut it to 10 with 9:02 remaining on two Liddell free throws. Still, it was a nine-point edge at the under-eight timeout, and Michigan seemed to be in control of its NCAA Tournament fate.
Jones pushed the lead back to 60-49 with a runner, but Jamari Wheeler banked in a triple at 6:30, an unlucky break for Michigan. It was a new ball game with 4:26 remaining, 62-56, and Michigan was holding on for dear life.
The Wolverines stayed a step ahead. Justin Ahrens’ triple, however, made it 66-62 with under two minutes remaining, setting up a tight finish. Freshman Kobe Bufkin hit a huge triple at 1:20 on a pass from Brooks. A Moussa Diabate dunk inside pushed the lead to 71-63 with 42 seconds remaining, but the Buckeyes had one last run in them. They hit another three with 22 seconds left that cut it back to 71-67.
All Michigan had to do was protect the ball and make some free throws to escape Columbus with a huge road win.
Fifth-year senior Eli Brooks was up to the task. He made two to push the lead back to 73-67. Terrance Williams added two more after an OSU bucket, and the Wolverines pulled off the huge upset.
Jones led Michigan with 21 points and nine assists, making three of six triples and several big finishes down the stretch. Williams added 17, Diabate and Brooks 14 each.
Michigan finishes the season 11-9 in Big Ten play and will play Thursday in Indianapolis.
