Michigan basketball fans, take a deep breath. Tuesday night at Crisler Center was a roller coaster, but in the end, the Wolverines proved they belong among the Big Ten’s best, taking down No. 7 Purdue, 75-73, in a thriller that came down to the final shot.
Just over two weeks removed from a 27-point drubbing at the hands of Purdue, the Wolverines (19-5, 11-2 Big Ten) avenged that loss in dramatic fashion, snatching a victory from the jaws of what at times looked like another lopsided defeat. With the win, Michigan surged past Purdue (19-6, 11-3) into first place in the conference, an unthinkable turnaround for a program that went 8-24 last season.
A Rocky Start, A Furious Comeback
The Wolverines’ ability to hang with elite teams was in question early as Purdue came out firing, racing to a 7-0 lead while Michigan spent the opening minutes turning the ball over like it was a hot potato. The home crowd had barely settled into their seats before the Boilermakers were up 12-4, and when Purdue extended its lead to 37-26 with under four minutes left in the first half, the warning signs of another blowout were flashing bright.
But then something clicked. Michigan ripped off a 9-0 run to close the half, fueled by six crucial points from Roddy Gayle Jr. off the bench, cutting the deficit to just 37-35 at halftime. The Wolverines had life—and a game on their hands.
Trading Punches in the Second Half
Momentum, however, is a fickle friend. Michigan opened the second half by promptly missing nine of its first 10 shots, and Purdue took full advantage, extending the lead back to 10 at 48-38. But just when it seemed like the Wolverines were heading for another night of “almost,” they flipped the script.
Led by a pair of clutch threes from Nimari Burnett and the relentless effort of Vlad Goldin in the paint, Michigan clawed all the way back. With six minutes to go, Burnett’s three-pointer tied the game at 57, and two Goldin free throws moments later gave the Wolverines their first lead since early in the first half.
From there, it was a classic Big Ten brawl. The teams traded baskets, but when Danny Wolf’s layup gave Michigan a 68-67 lead with just over two minutes left, the Wolverines never trailed again. Goldin added three more free throws, Rubin Jones soared for a highlight-reel putback dunk, and the Crisler Center crowd erupted as Michigan built a six-point cushion with under a minute to play.
Purdue’s Braden Smith did his best to spoil the party, draining back-to-back threes in the final 20 seconds, keeping Boilermaker hopes alive. But after Wolf missed two free throws with six seconds left, Smith’s last-second heave bounced harmlessly off the backboard, sealing the win for Michigan.
Statement Win, Big Implications
The victory marks Michigan’s fifth straight and sixth in their last seven, all by four points or fewer. The cardiac Wolverines are making a habit of keeping fans on the edge of their seats, but their ability to win close games is paying dividends in the conference standings.
Wolf led Michigan with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Gayle Jr. added 14 crucial points off the bench. Goldin and Tre Donaldson chipped in 12 each, with Goldin’s second-half presence in the paint proving vital. Michigan held Purdue to 43.5% shooting and just eight free throw attempts, a key factor in the outcome.
Michigan in prime position heading toward March, but the journey is far from over. A challenging Big Ten schedule remains, including two ranked matchups with in-state rival Michigan State and a clash with ranked Maryland. This win over Purdue, though, serves as a powerful reminder: these Wolverines are for real, and they’re not afraid of anyone.