If there’s one thing the Michigan Wolverines have mastered this season, it’s the art of turning comfortable leads into heart-stopping finishes. The 24th-ranked Wolverines (18-5, 8-2 Big Ten) did it again Saturday afternoon, building an 18-point first-half advantage before holding on for dear life in a 70-67 victory over Indiana (14-10, 5-8 Big Ten) at Assembly Hall.

For Michigan head coach Dusty May, returning to his alma mater, this was never going to be just another game. His stated mission? “Win a freaking basketball game.” Mission accomplished—barely.

First Half: Fast Start, Big Lead

Michigan wasted no time asserting itself, racing out to a 16-5 lead behind a scorching shooting performance. Tre Donaldson set the tone, scoring eight of the team’s first nine points while adding a steal and a rebound for good measure. The Wolverines hit six of their first seven shots, including 3-of-4 from deep, and strung together an 11-0 run to take early control.

Momentum briefly shifted as Indiana responded with an 11-0 run of its own to tie the game at 16, but Michigan steadied the ship. A Rubin Jones three-pointer broke the dry spell, and from there, the Wolverines took off again, mounting a 16-1 run that helped balloon their lead to 18 points late in the first half. They entered the break leading 43-27, having shot 51.9% from the field and 41.7% from beyond the arc.

Second Half: The Usual Drama

Fans hoping for a stress-free finish were once again left on the edge of their seat instead. Michigan’s first possession of the second half? A turnover. Indiana’s? A three-pointer. It was a sign of things to come.

Indiana clawed back with a relentless 20-4 run over an eight-minute stretch, trimming what was once an 18-point deficit to a single point with 9:30 remaining. The Hoosiers, despite never leading at any point in the game, managed to tie things up at 59 with just over four minutes to play.

But Michigan refused to let the lead slip entirely. A Vlad Goldin dunk and a Donaldson layup pushed the Wolverines ahead 63-59. Clutch free throws by Danny Wolf, who finished with a team-high 20 points and nine rebounds, proved decisive in the closing moments.

With Michigan clinging to a 66-64 lead in the final seconds, Wolf calmly sank two more from the charity stripe to extend the margin. Indiana got one final look at a game-tying three, but the shot rattled out. Wolf secured the rebound, was fouled again, and iced the game at the line.

Somehow, some way, the Wolverines held on. Danny Wolf led the team with 20 points and 9 rebounds, and hit crucial free throws down the stretch, proving his clutch gene is fully operational. Vlad Goldin added 18 points and 8 rebounds, and Tre Donaldson also chipped in with 18 points. Michigan finished the game shooting 44% from the field, but an ice-cold 0-for-9 from three in the second half. Free throws were once again important as Michigan closed out the win shooting 17-of-20 from the charity stripe.

Michigan has now won four straight and five of its last six, each by just three or four points. The Wolverines have made a habit of turning big leads into dramatic finishes, but they’ve also shown the ability to win tight games—a trait that could prove invaluable come March.

Looking Ahead

Michigan remains tied for second in the Big Ten with Michigan State, trailing only Purdue. And speaking of Purdue, a rematch with the top-ranked Boilermakers looms on Tuesday in Ann Arbor. With five of their final eight games coming against ranked opponents, we’re about to learn a lot about what this team is really made of.

One thing’s for sure: no lead is ever safe, and no Michigan game is ever over until the final buzzer sounds. Buckle up, Wolverines fans—it’s going to continue to be a wild ride.