Michigan
11-9,5-4Big Ten
Purdue
20-1,9-1Big Ten
U-M Battles but Unable to Defeat No.1-Ranked Purdue at Crisler
1/26/2023 11:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- While Hunter Dickinson won the battle of all-conference big men, scoring 21 points to Zach Edey's 19, the University of Michigan men's basketball team fell short against top-ranked Purdue 75-70 on Thursday night (Jan. 26) at Crisler Center.
Leaders and Best
Dickinson led the Wolverines with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Kobe Bufkin added 16 points. Joey Baker also reached double figures with 11 points behind three triples.
Turning Point
With 7:46 left to play in the first half and Michigan leading 28-26, Purdue went on a 15-0 run to take a 13-point lead which the Wolverines could not overcome despite pulling within one possession late in the second half.
First Half
Michigan (11-9, 5-4 Big Ten) made four of its first five shots from the field, capped off by a spinning and-one layup by Dickinson to take a 10-7 lead in the first three minutes of the game. After the Wolverines led by as many as six, Purdue eventually closed the gap by sinking four straight field goals, tying the score at 20 and forcing a U-M timeout.
Over the next several minutes, each team struggled to gain an edge in what proved to be a physical first 20 minutes, with 18 total fouls called between the two teams -- 12 coming in the first 10 minutes.
With 7:46 remaining, Purdue (20-1, 9-1 Big Ten) embarked on a 15-0 run that lasted nearly five minutes to establish a 13-point lead. Michigan answered with a 7-0 run behind five points from Dickinson in the final three minutes, narrowing the deficit to 41-35 at halftime.
Second Half
The Wolverines started the second half with two turnovers on their first two possessions, falling behind by 11, but Bufkin scored nine of U-M's next 13 points as the Wolverines pulled within five, 53-48, by the 12:32 mark.
After a three-minute U-M scoring drought that helped Purdue stretch the lead back to double digits, Baker drained a three-pointer to snap the dry spell. Dug McDaniel followed up with a floater of his own and the Wolverines once again trailed by five, 58-53, with 8:17 remaining in regulation. The Boilermakers responded by outscoring Michigan 7-2 over the next two minutes to claim a 65-55 lead.
The Maize and Blue struggled to put a dent in Purdue's lead down the stretch, going scoreless for nearly three minutes until a three-pointer from Dickinson pulled U-M within six, 71-65, with 36 seconds remaining. The Boilermakers missed a free throw and Baker scored on a layup that cut the deficit to four. After a pair of Purdue free throws, Baker banked in a desperate three-point heave in the final seconds to bring Michigan within three at 73-70, but a pair of free throws from Purdue's Brandon Newman was enough to seal the 75-70 result.
What's Next
The Wolverines will travel to State College, Pa., for a Sunday (Jan. 29) contest against Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center. Tipoff is scheduled for noon, and the game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
Notes
• Kobe Bufkin has reached double figures in 12 of his last 15 games. He is Michigan's third-leading scorer, averaging 12.3 points per game.
• With seven rebounds, Hunter Dickinson is 23 rebounds away from a third straight 200-plus rebound season.
• Dickinson also dished four assists, one shy of his season high of five against Pittsburgh (Nov. 16).
• Joey Baker made his first start has a Wolverine. With 11 points, he reached double figures for the second time this season (14 vs. Pittsburgh, Nov. 16).
• Will Tschetter played a career-best 17 minutes, scoring three points, collecting a rebound and blocking a shot.
• Jace Howard returned from a concussion, scoring two points in eight minutes.
