The Michigan Wolverines started with a bang against the USC Trojans on Saturday night, knocking down five three-pointers for their first five buckets to grab a 15-6 lead. The score swung back and forth from there, and several times the Wolverines found themselves behind, but the visitors took home the victory on the strength of a 12-3 run to end the game.
They improve to 11-3 overall and 3-0 vs the Big Ten, while dropping USC to 9-5 (1-2).
Every starter filled up the box score, but seven-foot “power forward” Danny Wolf took center stage with 21 PTS, 13 REB, and 7 AST, missing only three shots all game. The Yale transfer’s 6 blocks were the most by a Wolverine since 2008, according to FOX, which broadcast the contest as part of its “Primetime Hoops” program.
Point guard Tre Donaldson supplied 16 PTS and 6 AST, in addition 16 from Nimari Burnett, 12 from Roddy Gayle Jr. and 11 from Michigan’s other mountain man, 7’1” Vladislov Goldin.
While the stats and final score paint a polished picture, Saturday’s was a hard-fought win that featured a few ugly droughts from coach Dusty May’s resurgent squad.
Michigan Wolverines Enjoy Hot Shooting But Fail To Build First-Half Lead
After the Wolverines roared out to that early advantage, the Trojans battled back over the next 6:26. Benefitting from three turnovers, they strung together baskets to shave the margin to a point, 20-19. Michigan regained a bit of rhythm on offense with a pair of treys by Wolf and Donaldson, but from that point on it was neck-and-neck to the break. First half scoring ended the way it began, on another Donaldson three.
The performance by either team offered a stark study in contrast. In fact, the Wolverines only made three two-point shots the entire half, getting their points instead via hot long-distance shooting (10-16 from deep) and a perfect 6-6 showing at the charity stripe.
The Trojans, on the other hand, made only one three in six tries and scored 14 points in the paint. While less efficient at the free throw line, they were there more often (7-11). Despite Michigan’s size advantage, USC had them on the glass, 16-12.
Roller Coaster Ride to the Finish Line
Within the first minute of second-half action, the Wolverines allowed a bucket to USC’s Desmond Claude, who along with guard Wesley Yates III led the team with 19 apiece. After that, though, Michigan tore off on a 15-0 run that reached its peak on a vicious jam from Wolf. 55-40, timeout Trojans.
Even during their torrential spree, however, the Wolverines had gone cold–frigid–from distance, or they could have mounted an even greater lead. In the second half, they shot 0-8 on three-point shots.
Kept within shouting distance by the Wolverines’ cold hand, USC snatched the torch for themselves and lit up the arena with a 15-2 explosion of their own to go up 65-63 with 7:33 to go. Before Gayle Jr. laid it up and in, Michigan had gone scoreless for 3 minutes, 58 seconds.
It did not need to be this close, but credit to May’s men for switching tactics once it became clear that jumpshots were not falling. The Wolverines did not attempt attempt a three in the last eight minutes of the game.
In that final lap, they scrapped their way to a pair of 10-0 spurts that finally put the game way. They found other ways to win, like crashing the glass, attacking the rim, and getting to the free throw line. Despite their first-half disadvantage in paint points, they ended up taking that category by a sizable gap, 38 to 26. They also overtook the Trojans in rebounds by one, and forced 15 second half-turnovers to their own 10.
Of course, they should also thank their foes from freezing up down the stretch (no made field goals for nearly four minutes) and blowing a couple of layups.
The horn sounded on a satisfying victory for Michigan, but they need to tighten up ship before facing #15 UCLA on Tuesday. Just upset by Nebraska, the Bruins will take the court with something to prove. While the Wolverines are riding a three-game win streak, their next opponent brings a level of competition they haven’t seen since their soul-crushing loss to Oklahoma on December 18.
For More Great Hardwood Heroics Content
Follow me on Twitter at @ezsniper14 for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in NBA and College Basketball, click here!
