Michigan
4-0,0-0Big Ten
Central Florida
1-1,0-0AAC
Second-Half Dominance Leads Michigan to Victory Over Central Florida
12/6/2020 7:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
» Michigan outscored Central Florida, 29-5, over a span of in the second half.
» Michigan went on a 22-4 run in the first half to take its first lead.
» Chaundee Brown Jr. led U-M with 18 points, including four three-pointers.
» Hunter Dickinson (14 points) earned his fourth game with double-digit points.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Center)
Score: Michigan 80, Central Florida 58
Records: U-M (4-0), UCF (1-1)
U-M Event: Wednesday, Dec. 9 -- vs. N.C. State (Crisler Center), 7:15 p.m. (TV: ESPN2)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A 29-5 run over nearly nine minutes in the second half propelled the University of Michigan men's basketball team to a dominating 80-58 win over Central Florida on Sunday (Dec. 6) at Crisler Center.
The Wolverines (4-0) put together two impressive runs in the win against the Knights. Michigan surged its comeback in the first half with a 22-4 run before closing out the game on a 29-5 run.
The U-M bench was the difference-maker in the victory, scoring 49 points compared to UCF's bench contribution of 18.
Junior Chaundee Brown Jr. led Michigan with 18 points, which included four three-pointers, while freshman Hunter Dickinson notched his fourth double-digit scoring appearance with 14 points. Both Eli Brooks and freshman Terrance Williams II each added 10 points for Michigan, a career high for the freshman.
On the boards, Dickinson and senior Isaiah Livers both grabbed seven rebounds, while Williams II brought down a career-best six.
Defensively, Michigan kept UCF (1-1) at 35 percent shooting (21-for-60) as it went 1-for-17 to start the second half.
The Wolverines struggled to find a basket in the first half against the Knights' zone defense, and UCF went on an 11-0 run to take a 25-13 lead before Williams II converted an and-one play with 8:54 remaining.
Michigan staged a comeback using a 14-3 run which included 11 straight points to come within one, 28-27, and forced a Central Florida timeout with 4:34 left in the first half.
The Wolverines continued on the run out of the timeout and took their first lead of the game on a Brooks layup. The Wolverines finished the half on a 22-4 run to take a four-point lead, 38-34, lead into the halftime break.
Michigan put together a 7-0 run early in the second half and followed it up with an 8-0 run, capped off with a Brown triple to take a 55-44 lead with 11:31 reaming in the contest.
U-M's run turned into 20 straight points and the Wolverines held the Knights scoreless for seven and a half minutes and 1-for-17 shooting.
The Wolverines led by as many as 30 points during in the 29-5 second-half and went on to victory.
Michigan will wraps up its non-conference play Wednesday (Dec. 9), when the Wolverines host North Carolina State in an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game at Crisler Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
