Michigan basketball back in win column, dominates over-matched Purdue Fort Wayne 89-58

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A pair of hard fought losses put a sour taste in Michigan basketball’s mouth to end the key portion of its nonconference schedule, but the Wolverines got back in the holiday spirit in a big way Sunday after a stretch of five of six games away from home.

All 10 of the Wolverines who played in Sunday’s first half scored at least three points by the break, U-M made an incredible 21 of its first 25 shots from the floor and led by 25 at the half as Dusty May’s squad hammered an overmatched Purdue Fort Wayne team, 89-58, at Crisler Center.

Michigan had a stretch where it made nine consecutive field goals, another where it made five straight and two others in which it made three in a row, all in the first 20 minutes. The scoring was balanced the whole way as five Wolverines finished in double figures — Tre Donaldson with 16 points, Vlad Goldin with 13, Roddy Gayle Jr. with 12, Nimari Burnett with 10 and freshman Justin Pippen with a career-high 10.

Michigan guard Tre Donaldson (3) celebrates 85-83 win over Iowa at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.

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The Wolverines assisted on 14 of 21 shots before the break, while the Mastodons had zero assists as they shot 11-for-33 (33.3%). Fort Wayne’s first assist came on a 3-pointer with 14:44 to play in the game; Michigan finished with 21 as a team.

Michigan returns to action next Sunday against Western Kentucky (8 p.m., Big Ten Network).

Red-hot shooting fuels runaway

Until the final 5 seconds of the opening period, it was among the best shooting halves in Michigan basketball history

Michigan was shooting 84% (21-for-25) before Sam Walters missed a 3 and Goldin couldn’t connect on a fall-away in the closing moments. Prior to then, virtually any Wolverine who put something up made it. Michigan got an early 3 from Burnett, then a trio of looks at the rim from Danny Wolf, Gayle and Donaldson.

A Jalen Jackson layup — he scored 17 of…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-basketball-back-win-column-200838157.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2024-12-22 20:08:00

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