Michigan
21-2; 10-2
Rutgers
11-11; 4-9
Wolverines Defeat Rutgers, Deliver Beilein Historic Birthday Gift
2/5/2019 11:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball
» With the win, head coach John Beilein became Michigan's all-time leader in Big Ten Conference wins with 121, surpassing Johnny Orr's 120 victories.
» Freshman Ignas Brazdeikis recorded 23 points, while dropping a career-high five three-pointers.
» Simpson notched his 18th game with five assists or more, dishing out seven while adding 14 points and seven rebounds.
» Jon Teske blocked two shots to notch his 14th game with two blocks or more.
Site: Piscataway, N.J. (The RAC)
Score: #7 Michigan 77, Rutgers 65
Records: U-M (21-2, 10-2 Big Ten), Rutgers (11-11, 4-8 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 9 -- #19 Wisconsin (Crisler Center), noon (TV: FOX)
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Freshman Ignas Brazdeikis scored 23 points, 15 coming on a career-high five three-pointers, to lead the University of Michigan men's basketball team (No. 7 AP/No. 7 Coaches Poll) to a 77-65 victory over Rutgers on Tuesday night (Feb. 5) at the RAC.
With the win, head coach John Beilein – on his birthday -- earned his 121st Big Ten victory at Michigan to become the program leader in that category. He passed Johnny Orr, who recorded 120 Big Ten Conference wins during his 11-year career (1969-1980).
Brazdeikis' 23 points were a game high, while Jordan Poole netted 15 points, Zavier Simpson scored 14 and Charles Matthews added 11.
Simpson notched his 18th game with five assists or more, dishing out seven and grabbing seven rebounds.
Junior Jon Teske blocked two shots for his 14th game with two swats or more. Brazdeikis also blocked a pair of shots, pulled down five rebounds and handed out four assists.
Brazdeikis netted Michigan's first eight points to spark a 12-2 run capped off with back-to-back fast break points from Poole and Matthews. Following the Matthews's layup, Rutgers called its first timeout of the half with Michigan leading, 13-6, with 15:18 remaining in the first half.
The Wolverines continued to have the hot hand coming out of the timeout, shooting 80 percent from the field and from beyond the arc, while going 5-for-5 from the charity stripe to extend its lead in the opening half.
Rutgers looked to close the gap, scoring four straight points, but Michigan's passing to collapse the Scarlet Knights defense inside the paint and left Simpson wide open on the perimeter to drop the trey and put the Wolverines up by 17 points, 32-15.
Coming out of the final media timeout, Rutgers put together a quick 8-0 run to pull within nine of U-M before Beilein called a timeout. Michigan then scored four straight points and took a 43-31 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Both teams struggled to find their shooting in the second half as both went without a basket over a span of three minutes before both teams scored on back-to-back possessions with the Wolverines leading, 48-39.
Neither team was able to get into an offensive rhythm with Michigan holding on to a 10-point advantage, 63-53, with six minutes to play in the contest. Despite not being able to put together an offensive run, Michigan locked in on defense to ice Rutgers from the floor for 4:22.
U-M also made its free throws down the stretch with Simpson, Poole and Matthews all making at least one to nail down the Wolverines' victory.
The Wolverines will return to Crisler Center on Saturday (Feb. 9) when it takes on No. 19 Wisconsin for the second time this season. The opening tip is scheduled for noon and the game will be broadcast on FOX.
