No. 7 Michigan scores 69 in first half, crushes Oakland

Morez Johnson scored 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field to help lead No. 7 Michigan to a 121-78 season-opening win over in-state foe Oakland on Monday in Ann Arbor.

Johnson was one of seven players who scored in double-figures for the Wolverines.

Trey McKenney made 6 of 8 shots from 3-point range and scored 21 points, Will Tschetter had 16 points and Nimari Burnett went 4 of 7 from 3-point range and scored 14. Adam Mara had 12 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks, Yaxel Lendeborg scored 12 and Roddy Gayle Jr. added 11.

Elliott Cadeau dished out 12 assists for Michigan.

Isaac Garrett scored 20 points, Tuburu Naivalurua had 18, Ziare Wells scored 14 and Brody Robinson added 11 for Oakland.

Michigan held a 69-38 lead at halftime, setting a school record for points scored in a half. The old mark was 66 set in 1987 against Eastern Michigan.

The Wolverines did just about everything right offensively in the first half, shooting 71% from the field overall (27 of 38), going 18 of 21 on 2-point shots, 52.9% from e-point range (9 of 17) and dishing out 18 assists to just four turnovers.

Johnson had 20 points at halftime on 8-of-10 shooting from the field.

Oakland played Michigan evenly in the first seven minutes of the second half, but Michigan then went on a 12-0 run and hit the 100-point barrier following a three-point play by McKenney for a 100-57 lead with 9:31 remaining.

Michigan broke the game open early, going on a 20-0 run over a span of 4:11 to take a 34-10 lead with 11:57 remaining until halftime.

Later in the half, the Wolverines went on a 12-2 surge to take a 67-35 lead with 1:05 left.

--Field Level Media