Michigan
7-10,2-4Big Ten
Ohio State
12-5,2-4Big Ten
Nkamhoua, Williams Help Lead U-M Past OSU on MLK Day
1/15/2024 3:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's basketball team snapped a five-game losing streak in a 73-65 win over Ohio State on Monday (Jan. 15) at Crisler Center during an MLK Day celebration. U-M basketball recognized the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. in the afternoon matinee.
Leaders and Best
Olivier Nkamhoua led the Wolverines with 20 points while grabbing six rebounds. Terrance Williams II scored 18 points and shot a perfect 5-for-5 from three-point range. Dug McDaniel returned to action, scoring 15 points and shooting 3-for-6 from three.
The Turning Point
Connecting on his fourth three-pointer of the game, Williams gave Michigan a two-point advantage (63-61) at the 3:37 mark, which started a 7-0 run for the Wolverines. The run put the finishing touches on the victory as Ohio State never came within four points for the remainder of the contest.
Second Half
The Wolverines (7-10, 2-4 B1G) took a 12-point lead (55-43) off a three-pointer from Williams at the 11:46 mark but U-M missed its next six field goals and went on a scoring drought for over four minutes. During the U-M slump, Ohio State (12-5, 2-4 B1G) made five of its next six field goals to go on a 16-0 run over a three-minute span. OSU took a 59-55 lead with 7:58 left.
After missing eight straight field goals and not scoring for nearly five minutes, Nkamhoua added to his double-figure point total with a jump shot to U-M within two at the 6:37 mark. U-M took a 60-59 lead with 5:48 left off a three-pointer from Nimari Burnett.
The Nkamhoua jump shot at the 6:37 mark started a 12-2 run for Michigan. The run helped the Wolverines retake the lead and put them out in front, 67-61, with 2:26 remaining. Williams' hot shooting continued in the in the closing seconds of the game as he made his fifth three-pointer with 33 seconds to end any comeback hopes for the Buckeyes.
First Half
After Nkamhoua scored the first points of the game, Michigan missed its next five field goals and allowed Ohio State to go on an early 6-0 run. Michigan only made one of its next seven field goals, and after two free throws from Burnett, trailed, 8-7, with 15:31 remaining in the half.
Starting with a contested layup at the 11:09 mark, Nkamhoua scored two straight buckets and assisted on a Will Tschetter layup to ignite an 8-0 run for U-M. The run put the Wolverines out in front, 21-15, with 8:35 remaining in the first.
Three-point shooting sparked another 8-0 run for the Maize and Blue as Williams and Nkamhoua each drilled a shot from long range. Michigan made three straight field goals to force an OSU timeout, leading 29-19 with 5:28 to play in the first. Michigan committed four turnovers over the last five minutes but still maintained its lead. A three-pointer to beat the buzzer from McDaniel sent the Wolverines to the locker room with a nine-point lead (37-28) over the Buckeyes.Â
What's Next
Michigan will remain in Ann Arbor for its next game on Thursday (Jan. 18) against Illinois at Crisler Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on FS1.
Notes
• Williams' five three-pointers breaks his previous career best (four) set this season against Stanford and against McNeese.
• U-M has won three straight over OSU with a 51-40 record in Ann Arbor.
• Nkamhoua has scored double-figures with five-plus rebounds for 11 straight games and has completed this feat in 16 games this season.
