Michigan
1-0,0-0Big Ten
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UNC Asheville
0-1,0-0Big South
Offense Shines in Michigan's Opening-Night Victory Over UNC Asheville
11/7/2023 11:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's basketball team opened regular-season play on Tuesday night (Nov. 7) with a dominant 99-74 victory over visiting UNC Asheville at Crisler Center.
Leaders and Best
Michigan (1-0) was led by Olivier Nkamhoua, who scored 25 points, shot 11-for-16 from the field and had seven rebounds. Dug McDaniel scored a career-high 22 points, shooting 9-for-15 from the field and 4-for-9 from behind the arc.
Turning Point
In the first half, UNC Asheville (0-1) battled with the Wolverines and kept the score within five points early and the Bulldogs trailed by seven, 21-14, at the first media timeout. After the break, Michigan went on a 10-2 run pushed the Wolverines to a 13-point margin UNC Ashville would crack only once the rest of the contest.
First Half
Michigan began its first contest of the 2023-2024 regular season greeted by a full court press, which led to an early U-M turnover and Bulldogs free throws. Trailing 2-0 less than a minute into the game, Nimari Burnett drained a shot from behind the arc to put the Wolverines ahead for good at 3-2. The basket was the first of the new season for the Maize and Blue and the first for Burnett as a Wolverine.
Having extended its lead to 21-14 at the under-12 minute media timeout, U-M pushed its advantage to 31-16 thanks to a 10-2 run over the next 2:18. The run was started by a three from McDaniel, ended by a triple from Terrance Williams III and was bolstered by a McDaniel jumper and a Nkamhoua layup. The Wolverines pushed the lead to 21 with 2:18 remaining in the first half, but UNC Ashville chipped away to cut its deficit to 16, 48-32, to end the stanza.
Second Half
Michigan started fast, thanks in part to McDaniel, who scored seven of U-M's first 10 points of the second half. The remaining three points came courtesy of a Burnett layup and hitting the ensuing free throw, and the Wolverines led 58-28.
Williams and Tarris Reed Jr. combined for a 7-0 run to put Michigan ahead by 27, 67-41. That was followed by Nkamhoua going on an eight-point spurt of his own over the next two minutes, featuring three dunks and jumper, to give the home team a 29-point cushion, 75-46, its largest of the game at the 11:24 media timeout.
Following the timeout, UNC Asheville went on a 10-3 run over the course of two minutes to bring the Bulldogs within 20 at 79-59 with 8:15 remaining.
Like they did in the late stages of the first half, the visitors continued to try to chip away at the U-M lead. After the under-eight minute media break, UNC Asheville hit a three to get to again get within 20, 82-62, but three-pointers from Will Tschetter and Burnett brought U-M's growing lead to 26, 88-62, with 5:30 left in the contest.
Free throws from Youssef Khayat and a layup from Cooper Smith put the finishing touches on its 99-74 victory.
What's Next
Michigan will play host to Youngstown State on Friday (Nov. 10) at Crisler Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and the game ill be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
Notes
• U-M had four players that scored in double digits -- Olivier Nkamhoua (25), Dug McDaniel (22), Terrance Williams III 915) and Nimari Burnett (13).
• Michigan trailed for only 22 seconds in the contest.
• Michigan caused 13 turnovers and scored 18 points off of them.
•The Wolverines shot 38-for-67 from the field (56.7 percent) and 12-for-26 from beyond the arc (46.2 percent).
