Michigan
5-0
Providence
3-2
Michigan Defeats Providence, Wins Naismith Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament
11/18/2018 4:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
» Under head coach John Beilein, Michigan has won three regular-season tournaments.
» The Wolverines are 33-12 in regular-season tournament action.
» Ignas Brazdeikis recorded his first 20-point game. Jon Teske also had a career day with 17 points.
» Michigan will be back in action Friday (Nov. 23) at Crisler Center against Chattanooga.
Site: Uncasville, Conn. (Mohegan Sun Arena)
Score: #18 Michigan 66, Providence 47
Records: U-M (5-0), Providence (2-2)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Nov. 23 -- vs. Chattanooga (Crisler Center), 4 p.m.
UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Behind 20 points from freshman Ignas Brazdeikis and 17 from Jon Teske, the University of Michigan men's basketball team defeated Providence, 66-47, on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 18) to win the 2018 Naismith Hall of Fame Tipoff Tournament Championship.
The regular-season tournament win marks Michigan's first since the 2016 2K Classic in New York City, and the third under head coach John Beilein. U-M also won the 2012 NIT Season Tip-Off in New York City; and is 33-12 in regular-season tournament play under Beilein.
For their efforts throughout the tournament, senior Charles Matthews and sophomore Zavier Simpson were named to the All-Tournament team.
Brazdeikis led the Wolverines with a career-high 20 points, while  junior center  Jon Teske added a career-best 17 points which included his first career three-point basket. For the fifth straight game, junior Zavier Simpson dished out at least at five assists dealing out eight on the night.
Michigan had four players with five rebounds or more as Brazdeikis brought down a team-best seven, and Isaiah Livers, Simpson and Teske pulled down six each. The Wolverines forced 12 turnovers that led to 11 points, while 32 of U-M's 66 points came in the paint against the Friars.
The Wolverines used three straight defensive plays in the first seven minutes of the first half -- blocks from Matthews and Brazdeikis -- before Jordan Poole grabbed a steal and got the ball up to Brazdeikis for a fast-break dunk to put Michigan up 11-4 over the Friars.
Michigan used a Poole layup and a Teske free throw to work its lead to 21-14 before the Friars went on a 6-0 run to come within one of U-M and force a Wolverine timeout with 4:09 to play in the half. Teske came out of the timeout and dropped a three-pointer from the top of the arc to put Michigan up by four and end the scoring drought, while the defense followed it up with a shot-clock violation turnover to Providence.
Michigan ended the half on a 14-2 run that included a last-second dunk from Teske to send the Wolverines into the locker room with a 35-22 lead over Providence. Brazdeikis led all scorers as he netted 11 points in the first 20 minutes, and Teske also reached double-digits with 10 points.
The teams exchanged baskets to open the half before Livers connected on two straight treys in a 30-second span and forced Providence to call a timeout with the Wolverines leading, 44-29, with 16:22 to go in the game.
Michigan forced the Friars scoreless for 4:47, and Teske grabbed an offensive board to put the Wolverines up, 53-36, less than 10 minutes left. Two Poole free throws pushed the Michigan lead to 20 points, 60-40, before Matthews made a free throw on the next U-M possession.
The Wolverines will be back in action Friday (Nov. 23) when Michigan returns to Crisler Center for a contest against Chattanooga. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m, and the game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
