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If Michigan basketball wanted to secure its destiny as an NCAA Tournament team, it would have to get past rival Ohio State on Sunday.
The Wolverines lost to the Buckeyes at home earlier in the season, and would have to do what it could against OSU on the road while being shorthanded, as it was announced before the game that center Hunter Dickinson would be out due to a stomach ailment.
The teams traded blows to start the game, with multiple lead changes, as the Wolverines found ways to get baskets while the Buckeyes hit a barrage of 3s. The two traded blows for a long while, but near the end of the first half, as Michigan struggled to hit from the floor, OSU started to pull away, taking a 37-30 lead into the locker room at halftime.
But Michigan didn’t give up, tying the game four-plus minutes into the second half, thanks to an Eli Brooks 3-pointer. Then, the Wolverines pulled ahead, thanks to some crafty defense, taking a 49-43 lead into the under-12 media timeout.
And it continued, as OSU struggled to score while Michigan got rolling. Thanks to being fouled on a 3-point attempt, Brooks drained three-straight free throws to give the Wolverines a 12-point advantage with 10 minutes remaining. It was a 14-1 Michigan run.
But just as Ohio State got its bearings, Michigan struggled from the floor. Up six with 5:26 remaining, the Wolverines would have to both get some stops and scores to hold on. But OSU clawed its way back, with the deficit being just four with under five minutes remaining.
With four minutes remaining, Michigan increased the lead back to eight by virtue of a Moussa Diabate dunk.
Again, Michigan’s defense clamped down, as the Buckeyes went on a three-plus minute scoring drought. But, Justin Ahrens drained a 3 to cut the game to five with 2:43 remaining. DeVante’ Jones got a bucket on the other end, but Ahrens got yet another 3. It was a four-point game with 1:46 remaining.
But, as Jones went out with an injury, Kobe Bufkin came in and hit a big 3 to seal the game. Michigan took down the rival Buckeyes, 75-69, to likely ensure the NCAA Tournament bid.
Here are our five takeaways.