Michigan opens Big Ten play by blasting Rutgers, 101-60

Michigan Wolverines basketball destroyed Rutgers, 101-60, Saturday afternoon at Crisler Center, improving to 8-0 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play. Here’s a recap of how the game unfolded and the box score.

First half

Michigan started off with an 8-2 lead behind layups from graduate guard Nimari Burnett and two from sophomore forward Morez Johnson Jr., before a strong take from junior point guard Elliot Cadeau, who finished in traffic over multiple taller defenders. The Wolverines started out shooting 4-of-8 from the field, all makes from two-point range, and led 8-4 at the under-16 media timeout. Rutgers had 3 early turnovers and shot 2-of-6 from the field in the first four minutes.

Graduate forward Yaxel Lendeborg and Johnson began to heat up. Lendeborg scored on a baseline out of bounds right out of the media timeout. Johnson had a 2 steals, a block and 2 layups over the next three-plus minutes to put himself up to 8 points, a team-high, when Rutgers called timeout with Michigan up 17-6 at the 12:46 mark.

The Wolverines were 0-of-4 on threes but 8-of-11 from inside the arc at the under-12 media timeout, up 17-6. Rutgers hadn’t scored in over two minutes and were 3-of-11 shooting from the field at that juncture.

Rutgers guard Kaden Powers provided a spark on the bench, scoring 5-straight points of his own to cut the Michigan lead to 18-11.

Cadeau found freshman guard Trey McKenney for a lob dunk to put Michigan up 31-17 and mark a quick 7-0 run over a one-minute stretch that was started by a Burnett transition three and Johnson layup. Michigan made each of its last 6 field goals at that point, with 7:13 to go in the first half, and Johnson was leading the team with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field, a dominant start.

Michigan led 39-19 at the under-four media timeout, on a 15-2 and 8-0 run with Rutgers going on a 2:16 scoring drought. Johnson and Lendeborg each splashed three-pointers, putting the Maize and Blue up 20.

Michigan extended its lead to 25 at halftime, with senior guard Roddy Gayle Jr. scoring on a put-back with eight seconds left and then Rutgers not even getting a shot off at the buzzer, turning the ball over for the 10th time in the game. Michigan’s lead was 50-25 at the break, with Johnson leading the way with 15 points.

The Wolverines shot 58 percent from the field and 4-of-12 from three-point range in the first half. Rutgers was 34 percent from the field, including 2-of-10 from beyond the arc.

Second half

Michigan came out with intensity in the second half, working on its full-court pressure and playing with mace on offense. Johnson hit his second three-pointer of the game, Lendeborg splashed another and Gayle had a transition dunk forced after the Wolverines broke up a lob pass on the other end. Michigan led 60-33 with 16 minutes to go.

Michigan jumped all over Rutgers in the middle of the second half, building a 37-point lead at the 12-minute mark., up 77-40 Sophomore guard L.J. Cason had three second-half triples at that point, and Lendeborg also hit an NBA-esque three from the right wig off the bounce. McKenney had one off a baseline out of bounds, off balance in the right corner, too. The Wolverines shot 71 percent on twos in the first half and then hit Rutgers with 7 threes on 10 attempts in the first eight minutes of the second stanza.

Michigan got the lead up to 38 with a strong take and layup by Cadeau to make it 85-47 at the 8:05 mark. The Scarlet Knights were scoring more in the second half, with 22 points through 12 minutes, but not able to get stops.

Rutgers called timeout at the 6:42 mark, after a quick 7-3 spurt that didn’t put a dent in Michigan’s advantage (88-54).

Freshman guard/forward Winters Grady made a three with a wicked bounce to put Michigan up 95-56 with 4:33 left. Grady and Rutgers forward Dylan Grant got into each other’s faces as they came back down the court and each received technicals. Goodman threw a lob to freshman center Malick Kordel to make it 97-56, just out of the timeout for review. In an earlier sequence, redshirt freshman forward Oscar Goodman had a ferocious dunk, with Michigan’s reserves making a mark on the game, too.

Michigan got out of Saturday’s game with a 101-60 victory. Rutgers didn’t score even in garbage time, going without points in the last 2:58.

Michigan vs. Rutgers box score