After rough start, Michigan basketball quacks up Oregon Ducks, 80-76

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It’s like the old saying: If at first you don’t succeed, try, try … try, try again.

Michigan basketball missed its first four shots two apiece from Danny Wolf and Tre Donaldson — over the opening 2½ minutes, then hit 14 of its next 22 to welcome Oregon, in its first visit to Crisler Center as a Big Ten member, with an 80-76 loss Wednesday night.

Wolf contributed four of those makes, on six more tries, to finish the first half with 10 points and eight boards en route to a double-double, another contribution to his Big Ten Player of the Year candidacy.

Michigan center Danny Wolf (1) is defended by Oregon forward Supreme Cook (7) during the first half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025.

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Will Tschetter chipped in 10 first-half points of his own off the bench and Nimari Burnett added eight as the Wolverines took a five-point lead into the half.

U-M, which has struggled with turnovers throughout the season, entering Wednesday at nearly 15 a game, managed to limit its giveaways to just five over the first 20 minutes. But U-M piled up another five turnovers over the first 10:38 of the second, keeping the Wolverines from blowing out the Ducks.

Still, Michigan made the most of Oregon’s turnover issues, as the first 11 giveaways by the Ducks became 23 points for the Wolverines.

The Ducks climbed within two points of the Wolverines in the final three minutes, aided by six straight misses by U-M. But Vlad Goldin converted a thunderous dunk while drawing a foul (though he missed the foul shot) with 1:57 remainin to give the Wolverines some breathing room.

Next up, the Wolverines (17-5, 9-2) head to Bloomington to face May’s alma mater, Indiana, at 1 p.m. Saturday (CBS).

This story will be updated.

Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/rough-start-michigan-basketball-quacks-013220556.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2025-02-06 01:32:00

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