Michigan
7-6,1-2Big Ten
Rutgers
8-5,2-1Big Ten
Four Wolverines Score in Double Figures, but Michigan Falls Short at Rutgers
1/4/2022 9:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
» Hunter Dickinson scored 25 points, collecting his fourth 20-point game of the season.
» Moussa Diabate added 15 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
» Michigan will return to Crisler Center on Saturday to take on Michigan State.
Site: Piscataway, N.J. (Jersey Mike's Arena)
Score: Rutgers 75, Michigan 67
Records: U-M (7-6, 1-2 B1G), RU (8-5, 2-1 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Jan. 8 -- vs. Michigan State (Crisler Center), 2:30 p.m. (TV: Fox)
PISCATAWY, N.J. -- The University of Michigan men's basketball team had four players score in double figures but took a 75-67 loss to Rutgers on Tuesday night (Jan. 4) at Jersey Mike's Arena in its first contest of the new year.
Sophomore Hunter Dickinson recorded his fourth 20-point performance of the season with a team-best 25 points, while the freshman pair of Moussa Diabate (15 points) and Caleb Houstan (12) combined for 27 points. Eli Brooks added 11 points, seven of which came in the first half. Diabate and Houstan also teamed up to collect 17 rebounds, paced by Diabate's team-best nine.
Rutgers (8-5, 2-1 Big Ten) had the hot hand first, making six straight shots early and doubling up the Wolverines 22-11 with 11:16 remaining in the opening stanza. Dickinson had back-to-back makes, including a post move for a big dunk, but the Scarlet Knights followed it up with a 6-0 run and forced U-M to call a timeout trailing 35-19 with under five minutes left in the first half.
Brooks came out of the timeout to score seven straight points, starting with a three-pointer out of the break to bring Michigan within nine, 35-26. Michigan (7-6, 1-2 Big Ten) finished out the half on an 11-3 run as the defense put Rutgers on ice, holding the Scarlet Knights to 1-for-9 shooting to close out the half.
The Wolverines headed into the locker room trailing 39-30. Dickinson led the U-M offense with 10 points on 5-for-9 shooting, and Brooks seven points ignited the Wolverine offense in the closing minutes of the first half.
Michigan struggled coming out of the halftime break, turning the ball over four times early and allowing the Scarlet Knights to extend their lead to 53-38 at the second media timeout. Dickinson converted on an and-one play and Diabate knocked down a three-pointer on the Wolverines next possession to cut the Rutgers advantage to seven, 60-53, with 6:17 remaining in the contest.
With each U-M basket, Rutgers answered with one if its own to maintain at least a nine point lead. The Wolverines held the Scarlet Knights without a field goal over the final three minutes of action, but shot just 2-for-10 the rest of the way.
U-M will return to Crisler Center on Saturday (Jan. 8) when it hosts Michigan State at 2:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Fox. For fans attending Saturday's game, please review Michigan's vaccination policy for indoor events.
