It wasn’t always pretty, but in the Big Ten, road wins don’t have to be works of art—they just have to count. The Michigan Wolverines escaped Jersey Mike’s Arena with a 66-63 victory over Rutgers Saturday afternoon, a hard-fought win that showcased both the team’s potential and its persistent flaws. With the win, Michigan improved to 16-5 overall and 8-2 in conference play.

For a Wolverines squad that has flashed elite offensive efficiency at times this season, the past few games have felt more like a rollercoaster ride than a smooth ascent to March. Saturday’s win was another bumpy—but ultimately successful—step forward.

Michigan trailed 21-20 late in the first half before going on a 10-0 run and never trailed again, holding off every Rutgers push despite some familiar struggles with turnovers and rebounding. The Wolverines turned the ball over 17 times and allowed 15 offensive rebounds but managed to overcome those woes with timely buckets, tough defense, and a strong second half at the free-throw line.

Danny Wolf led the charge with a massive double-double, scoring 16 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, including 14 points in the second half. Vlad Goldin, back from an illness, added 14 points, while Tre Donaldson chipped in 10 points and 6 assists, controlling the game when it mattered most.

A Battle of Runs and Missed Opportunities

The game started in typical Big Ten fashion—scrappy, physical, and filled with enough missed shots to keep both fan bases groaning. Michigan jumped out to a 9-4 lead early behind the steady play of Donaldson, but Rutgers hung around thanks to second-chance opportunities, pulling down five offensive boards in the first 10 minutes.

Both teams struggled to find a rhythm, trading turnovers and missed layups as if they were trying to one-up each other in a contest of “who can make life more difficult.” Rutgers’ shooting woes—0-for-5 from three to start—helped Michigan maintain an early edge, and the Wolverines took advantage by knocking down five first-half threes, three of which were bench contributions from Sam Walters and Will Tschetter.

After Rutgers cut the deficit to 21-20, Michigan responded with a 10-0 run, fueled by back-to-back threes and Rutgers missing 10 straight shots. That stretch gave the Wolverines a 30-21 advantage, and they carried a 32-25 lead into halftime.

Holding On for Dear Life

The second half saw Michigan trying to put the game away, only to repeatedly let Rutgers creep back in. A pair of quick turnovers and continued rebounding struggles allowed the Scarlet Knights to trim the deficit to 33-30 just minutes after the break. The Wolverines answered with an 8-0 run behind a Tre Donaldson three and a pair of Danny Wolf free throws to push the lead back to 11.

From there, the game turned into a tug-of-war. Every time Michigan looked ready to put the game out of reach, Rutgers found a way to claw back. There was even a three-minute stretch where neither team managed to score—just missed shots, turnovers, fouls, and frustration.

Michigan’s defense, however, held strong. The Wolverines kept Rutgers’ star freshman Ace Bailey in check, limiting him to just 10 points. Meanwhile, Michigan’s offense found its way to the free-throw line 17 times in the second half, which proved crucial down the stretch.

With 16 seconds left, Danny Wolf finished a clutch second half by calmly sinking two free throws to give Michigan a comfortable 65-57 lead. Rutgers, refusing to go quietly, hit two desperation threes in the final moments, but Donaldson added another free throw to seal the 66-63 victory.

Numbers Tell the Story

• Michigan shot 47.8% from the field and knocked down 7-of-20 from deep, a respectable clip in a game where good looks were hard to come by.
• The Wolverines overcame their 17 turnovers by forcing Rutgers into 32.8% shooting, including just 10-of-36 from three.
• Free throws were a key difference, with Michigan going 15-of-21 from the stripe while Rutgers managed just 9-of-13.
• The rebounding battle was lopsided early and Rutgers pulled down 15 offensive rebounds, but Michigan ultimately balanced out the overall rebounding edge thanks in large part to Danny Wolf’s 14 rebounds and Rutgers continued missed shots.

Looking Ahead

While Michigan continues to show flashes of brilliance, they’ll need to clean up their turnover issues and improve their physicality on the boards if they want to remain a true Big Ten contender. Still, sitting at 8-2 in conference play and third in the standings behind Purdue and Michigan State, the Wolverines are in a strong position with plenty of time to sharpen their game before March.

At their best, they can compete with anyone. At their worst, they make every game an adventure. But with the calendar inching closer to tournament time, Michigan fans will take the wins—no matter how they come.