Michigan
6-7,1-1Big Ten
McNeese
11-2,0-0Southland
Michigan Ends Non-Conference Play with Loss to McNeese
12/29/2023 9:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In its final non-conference game of the 2023-24 campaign, the University of Michigan men's basketball team lost to McNeese, 87-76, on Friday night (Dec. 29) at Crisler Center.
Leaders and Best
Terrance Williams II was the leading scorer for the Wolverines, dropping 20 points and shooting 4-for-8 from three while going 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. Dug McDaniel added 17 points on the night, shooting 4-for-10 from three-point range along with eight rebounds and five assists. Olivier Nkamhoua also chipped in 17 points, shooting 6-for-9 from the field while grabbing seven rebounds. Will Tschetter was the fourth Wolverine with double-figure scoring as he finished with 11 points and shot 3-for-4 from the field.
First Half
Michigan (6-7) committed four turnovers early on and trailed 9-3 three minutes into the game. The Wolverines mounted a quick comeback with two three-pointers from Nimari Burnett and one from McDaniel to lead the Cowboys 12-9 with 15:13 remaining in the first half.
U-M trailed 20-17 at the 11:47 mark after three more costly turnovers aided a 7-0 McNeese run. The Wolverines then went cold, making only one of their next seven field goal attempts, and were held scoreless for a little more than three minutes, trailing McNeese 27-21 with 7:40 remaining.
After not making a field goal for a little over five minutes, Williams hit a three-point shot to trim the deficit to nine points, 35-26, with 5:06 to play in the half. The momentum shifted towards Michigan as it went on a 14-1 run over a four-minute span to lead 37-36 with under a minute left in the first. A put-back shot and a jumper to beat the buzzer from McNeese gave the Cowboys a 40-37 advantage over U-M at the halftime break.
Second Half
Despite a pull-up jumper from McDaniel narrowing the margin to three points at the 18:48 mark, McNeese continued to build its lead. After committing 10 turnovers in the first half, Michigan committed three more in the first seven minutes of the second stanza and trailed, 56-46 at the 13:16 mark.
Michigan pulled within five points, 60-55, after two made free throws from Nkamhoua and, after a defensive rebound from Williams, came down the floor with an opportunity to cut the deficit even more. After a missed shot by U-M, McNeese stopped any momentum Michigan had by making three of its next five field goals and extending its lead to 68-58.
McNeese (11-2) went on to make four of its next five field goals for its largest lead over U-M, 78-65, at the 2:37 mark. After a series of Michigan fouls followed by McNeese free throws, the Cowboys maintained its lead and defeated U-M, 87-76.
What's Next
U-M will remain in Ann Arbor to ring in the new year with a Big Ten Conference contest against Minnesota at Crisler Center on Thursday (Jan. 4). Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. and the game will be streamed on Peacock.
Notes
• McDaniel went 4-for-5 from three-point range in the first half.
• McDaniel extended his double-digit scoring streak to 13 games this season (all games).
• Williams has made a three-pointer in eight straight games.
• Nkamhoua has scored in double-figures while also grabbing 5-plus rebounds in 12-of-13 games this season.Â
