Michigan
15-11,9-7Big Ten
Rutgers
16-11,10-7Big Ten
Michigan Begins Homestand with Victory over Rutgers
2/23/2022 11:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
» With four Wolverines in double figures, Michigan defeated Rutgers, 71-62, at Crisler Center on Wednesday night (Feb. 23).
» Caleb Houstan tied a career best with five three-pointers and led all players with a career-best 21 points.
» Hunter Dickinson posted his seventh double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
» Associate head coach Phil Martelli led the Wolverines following the Big Ten's suspension of Juwan Howard.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Center)
Score: Michigan 71, Rutgers 62
Records: U-M (15-11, 9-7 B1G), RU (16-11, 10-7 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 27 -- vs. No. 15 Illinois (Crisler Center), 2 p.m. (TV: CBS)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- With four Wolverines scoring in double figures including a career best 21 points by freshman Caleb Houstan and sophomore Hunter Dickinson's seventh double-double of the season, the University of Michigan men's basketball team defeated Rutgers, 71-62, Wednesday night (Feb. 23) at Crisler Center.
The Wolverines (15-11, 9-7 B1G) earned their ninth Big Ten win of the season in the victory, with associate head coach Phil Martelli filling in for head coach Juwan Howard, who is in the midst of a five-game suspension. Going with a quicker pace to counter Rutgers' half-court offense, a second half 9-0 run helped the Maize and Blue take control of the game.
Houstan recorded his first career 20-plus point game with a career-high 21 points, which included tying his career best with five three pointers. He added three rebounds, an assist and a block. Dickinson followed with his seventh double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds) adding three blocks and two assists. Graduate student DeVante' Jones added 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while backcourt mate and graduate student Eli Brooks played in all 40 minutes posting 11 points, four rebounds and two assists.
U-M and Rutgers (16-11, 10-7 Big Ten) each started 3-for-9 while combining for an 0-for-5 long range line start. A pair of DeVante' Jones free throws were the only difference as the Maize and Blue grabbed the early lead, 8-6. Throughout the next four minutes, a pair of three-pointers from Caleb Houstan added with Jones' early six points built a four-point advantage, 16-12.
A pair of Hunter Dickinson free throws followed with a lefty one-handed monster dunk helped the Wolverines maintain their edge as both squads went scoreless over the next three minutes, then a fade-away jumper from Eli Brooks then extended Michigan's lead to 22-16.
Out of the timeout, Rutgers was 5-for-6 and notched a 12-8 run, cutting its deficit to two before an offensive rebound and lay-in by Brandon Johns Jr. helped U-M stay ahead, 32-28. With the Wolverines in a scoring drought over the final three minutes of the first half and Rutgers scoring just two points in that span, Michigan went into halftime with a 32-30 edge.
Offensive rebounds and two quick steals leading to dunks by Clifford Omoruyi helped the Scarlet Knights come out of the gates early in the second half and force a tie game, 38-38. However, back-to-back triples from Houstan gave U-M a four-point advantage and Rutgers was forced to call a timeout.
Rutgers again came within two, 44-42, thanks to a third dunk and a layup by Omoruyi, but Jones connected on a pair of jumpers and a driving scoop-and-score from Brooks helped the Wolverines to a five-point, 50-45 edge at the 12-minutes break.
Michigan took control of the game with a 9-0 run and the Maize and Blue lead reached 12 as Rutgers was forced to call another timeout with 9:20 remaining. Rutgers snapped a near three-and-a-half minute field goal drought with a layup and two free throws by Geo Baker, but U-M continued to hold onto a double-digit lead, 61-49.
The Wolverines' second half shooting continued as they held a 10-plus point advantage. Houstan's fifth three-pointer of the night allowed Michigan to take a 17-point lead with 3:01 left, but five more points from Omoruyi cut U-M lead to nine, 71-62, as time expired.
Michigan continues its homestand on Sunday (Feb. 27) as No. 15 Illinois comes to Ann Arbor for an afternoon CBS game. It will be the second meeting of the regular season between the two programs after the Illini claimed a 68-53 decision on Jan. 14 at the State Farm Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
