Michigan
14-11,8-7Big Ten
Wisconsin
21-5,12-4Big Ten
Cold-Shooting Second Half Does in Wolverines at No. 15 Wisconsin
2/20/2022 4:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball
» In its second Big Ten road game of the week, Michigan fell, 77-63, at No. 15 Wisconsin.
» Hunter Dickinson led the Wolverines with 21 points, while Eli Brooks had 14.
» DeVante' Jones has seven assists, his fifth straight game with five dimes or more in a game.
» Caleb Houstan tied a career-best with 10 rebounds, eight of which came in the first half.
Site: Madison, Wis. (Kohl Center)
Score: #15 Wisconsin 77, Michigan 63
Records: U-M (14-11, 8-7 B1G), UW (21-5, 12-4 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, Feb. 23 -- vs. Rutgers (Crisler Center), 7 p.m. (TV: B1G Network)
MADISON, Wis. -- After the Wolverines went cold in the second half and the Badgers made a big run, the University of Michigan men's basketball team fell 77-63 on Sunday (Feb. 20) to No. 15 Wisconsin at the Kohl Center.
After a back-and-forth first half, the two Big Ten squads went to the locker room tied at 31. After a quick spurt for the Wolverines to start the second half, they went cold through the middle 10 minutes of the half, while the Badgers countered with an 18-2 run to take control of the game and lead by double digits over the final six minutes.
Sophomore Hunter Dickinson led the Wolverines with 21 points, scoring 15 of those in the first half. He has posted five 20+ point games 11 times this season, including over his last eight contests. Posting double figures in his fifth straight game, graduate student Eli Brooks scored 14 points and four rebounds. Graduate student DeVante' Jones added 11 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
As the only regular-season meeting tipped off, the Wolverines (14-11, 8-7 Big Ten) went to work down low early as Moussa Diabate and Dickinson scored six of U-M's first eight points. Despite two Wisconsin (21-5, 12-4 Big Ten) driving layups, U-M held an 8-4 lead into the first media break. Out of the timeout, two more Badgers layups quickly tied the game at 8 as the first half settled into a classic Big Ten battle down low.
With Chuckie Hepburn scoring seven of the Badgers next nine points, he guided a Wisconsin run to build a five-point lead, 21-16, as U-M called a timeout to stop the momentum. Neither team could find the range from beyond the arc, combining to go 0-for-13, and the game continued to focus on getting downhill. Despite going 0-for-8 on threes, the Wolverines chipped away and drew within a point, 23-22, at the final media break.
Out of the timeout, Jones made one of his two free throws to tie the game, but Wisconsin went down low again to pick up two more baskets and the lead, 27-23, before a Caleb Houstan triple finally snapped the game's long-range drought. With U-M still trailing, Dickinson got the bucket while drawing the foul. Converting, he gave U-M a 29-27 lead. Drawing fouls on their next two possessions, the Badgers made four free throws to regain the advantage at 31-29. After winding the shot clock down, Dickinson was fouled and converted two more free throws to send the game tied at 31 to end the half.
A vicious dunk from Dickinson and a Brooks three-pointer followed by a steal and layup to start the second half forced a Wisconsin timeout with the Maize and Blue leading 38-33. After the break, Brad Davison drained the Badgers' first triple and they trailed by just two. Getting open looks from long range, U-M could not convert, but on the other end a three-pointer from Steven Crowl gave the Badgers a 41-39 lead.
U-M was 0-for-7 shooting over the next three minutes, and the Badgers went on a 9-0 run to go up by eight, 47-39. A Brooks floater snapped the drought, and scrappy play on both ends led to missed opportunities as Wisconsin still led 47-41 at the 12-minute media timeout. UW expanded its run to 16-2, while U-M was just 1-for-13, and Wisconsin was up 13, 54-41, midway through the second half.
Five Wolverine turnovers, and Wisconsin's run being at 18-2, Houstan got the Michigan back on the board with his second three-pointer, as U-M trailed 56-46. With the Badgers holding the Wolverines to one shot and done, Wisconsin continued to keep its double-digit advantage. Michigan's fouls began to add up, Wisconsin converted free throws on the other end and the Wolverines could not mount a rally.
Michigan will begin its final stretch run with five regular-season games remaining, including four straight at Crisler Center. Starting the run is a return game with Rutgers on Wednesday (Feb. 23). Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., with the game broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
