Michigan beats Ohio State to end five-game slide

Field Level Media|published: Mon 15th January, 14:47 2024

Jan 15, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward Will Tschetter (42) and Ohio State Buckeyes guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (1) look for the rebound in the first half at Crisler Center. credits: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Olivier Nkamhoua scored 20 points to help Michigan end a five-game losing streak with a 73-65 victory against Ohio State in Big Ten play at Ann Arbor, Mich., on Monday.

The Wolverines (7-10, 2-4 Big Ten) also got 18 points by Terrance Williams II and 15 from Dug McDaniel.

McDaniel, who leads the Wolverines in scoring (17.8) and assists (5.1), returned to the lineup after serving the first of a six-game road only suspension for academic reasons in the 64-57 loss at Maryland on Thursday.

Bruce Thornton scored 19 for the Buckeyes (12-5, 2-4), who have lost three straight. Roddy Gayle Jr. had 12 points and Felix Okpara 10.

Ohio State hasn't won a true road game since Jan. 1, 2023, a span of 13 games.

Michigan was 12 of 23 from 3-point range, while the Buckeyes were a shaky 3 of 25.

Williams secured the win on a 3-pointer with 33 seconds left to make it 72-65.

Michigan took its biggest lead, 55-43, with 12 minutes to play when Williams buried a 3-pointer off the transition before Ohio State reeled off 16 straight points to take a 59-56 lead when Thornton made a 3-pointer after Okpara scored on close-to-the-bucket shots.

The Wolverines were coming off blowing a 12-point halftime lead against Maryland but Nkamhoua stopped the Buckeyes' run with a basket and Nimari Burnett followed with a triple and suddenly the Wolverines were up 60-59.

Michigan upped the lead to 65-61 when Williams' 3-point try rattled the rim before falling through with 3:37 to play.

The Wolverines pulled away late to take a 37-28 halftime lead with McDaniel canning a 3-pointer at the buzzer to amplify the difference in long-range shooting between the teams.

Michigan in the first half made 7 of 11 3-pointers (63.6 percent) compared to 1 of 14 (7.1) for the Buckeyes, that being by Thornton among his five attempts.

The Wolverines used two early runs to separate themselves. A 6-0 spurt gave them a 19-15 lead and McDaniel later capped eight unanswered points with a trey to go ahead 29-19.

— Field Level Media

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