No. 3 Michigan Pulls Away to Win 74-62 Against Ohio State in Ann Arbor
Rivalry games are always close, no matter how good the teams involved are, and the 3rd-ranked Michigan Wolverines were able to fight off a pesky Ohio State Buckeye team to secure their 18th victory of the season on Friday night.
Wolverines Offense Stays Hot In Win
It’s a tall task when trying to beat a Michigan team that boasts one of the best offenses in the nation, and the Buckeyes were unable to keep pace late in the game. The Wolverines shot 52% from the floor while dominating the Buckeyes in the paint as they outscored Ohio State 36-24 in that area of the game. Michigan showcased its penchant for playing team basketball. They finished the game with 16 assists on 27 made shots in a tremendous display of unselfishness.
It was another fantastic night for Michigan’s top player in Yaxel Lendeborg, who continued to build his national player of the year case with another dynamic performance. The UAB transfer finished with a near double-double of 18 points and 9 rebounds in the win for Michigan. The Wolverines also got a great outing from their junior center, Aday Mara, who scored 11 points and collected 4 blocks on the night.
The Wolverines have been on a mission ever since losing their first game of the season two weeks ago against Wisconsin. They are on a 5-game winning streak following that loss. Michigan has also gone back to its dominating ways during this streak, with the average margin of victory being 11 points.
Buckeyes Bench Provides Zero Support In Loss
There aren’t many things to be happy about if you’re a Buckeye fan, and the performance of Ohio State’s bench will certainly be at the top of the grievance list following the loss. The Buckeyes’ second unit only mustered 4 points. That level of overreliance by the Buckeyes led to an overall inefficient outing on offense, as Ohio State would shoot just 40% from the field in the loss.
The one bright spot for the Buckeyes came in the form of sophomore Guard John Mobley Jr., who served as the focal point on offense for an Ohio State team seeking to upset its rival. Mobley Jr. dropped a game-high 22 points in a valiant effort in a tough road environment in Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes also received a solid performance from senior Guard Bruce Thornton, as he dropped 10 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in the loss.
Current Big Ten Standings and Upcoming Games For Both Teams
With the Big Ten conference season almost halfway complete, the top of the standings is currently jam-packed with several teams in the mix for the regular season title. Michigan currently sits at second place with a solid 8-1 record in Big Ten play, with other teams like Illinois, Purdue, and Michigan State right behind them at 7-1.
The Wolverines will have a chance to jump into first place next Tuesday, as they’ll face off against the 7th-ranked and undefeated Nebraska Cornhuskers in a monumental game with huge Big Ten and NCAA Tournament impacts attached to it. For the Buckeyes, this loss moves them to 5-4 in Big Ten play, which is good for 7th-place in the standings so far. Ohio State will have a chance to bounce back next Monday at home to go up against a tough Penn State squad.
