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CHICAGO − Thrice is nice for the Wolverines.
It wasn't easy, but No. 1 seed Michigan basketball opened its Big Ten Tournament with a 71-67 victory over rival No. 9 Ohio State, completing a three-game sweep of the Buckeyes for the first time ever to move on to the tournament semifinals.
Michigan will play the winner of 4-seed Illinois and 5-seed Wisconsin on Saturday, March 14 (1 p.m., CBS).
The game was significantly closer than many expected it to be. Michigan came out red-hot early, scoring the first seven points of the game and led by as many as 11 in the first half, but the Buckeyes quietly chipped away, trailing by only four at the break.
Bruce Thornton, OSU's all-time leading scorer, was able to score nearly at-will at times, finishing with 22 points on 7-for-15 shooting, but Michigan found a way to slow him down late.
After scoring 27 points against MSU in the regular season finale, Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg finished with just six points, while Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Aday Mara dominated the Buckeyes on both ends, leading the team with 17 points and thwarting many of OSU's attempts at the rim.
In the end, Michigan wore the Buckeyes down and found a way to win with some clutch free throws.
This time of the year, survive and advance will work.
This story will be updated shortly.
NOT TAKING IT EASY: Michigan basketball has simple objective for 2026 Big Ten Tournament
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball Big Ten Tournament score in win vs Ohio State
Continue reading...
It wasn't easy, but No. 1 seed Michigan basketball opened its Big Ten Tournament with a 71-67 victory over rival No. 9 Ohio State, completing a three-game sweep of the Buckeyes for the first time ever to move on to the tournament semifinals.
Michigan will play the winner of 4-seed Illinois and 5-seed Wisconsin on Saturday, March 14 (1 p.m., CBS).
The game was significantly closer than many expected it to be. Michigan came out red-hot early, scoring the first seven points of the game and led by as many as 11 in the first half, but the Buckeyes quietly chipped away, trailing by only four at the break.
Bruce Thornton, OSU's all-time leading scorer, was able to score nearly at-will at times, finishing with 22 points on 7-for-15 shooting, but Michigan found a way to slow him down late.
After scoring 27 points against MSU in the regular season finale, Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg finished with just six points, while Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Aday Mara dominated the Buckeyes on both ends, leading the team with 17 points and thwarting many of OSU's attempts at the rim.
In the end, Michigan wore the Buckeyes down and found a way to win with some clutch free throws.
This time of the year, survive and advance will work.
This story will be updated shortly.
NOT TAKING IT EASY: Michigan basketball has simple objective for 2026 Big Ten Tournament
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball Big Ten Tournament score in win vs Ohio State
Continue reading...
