The Michigan Wolverines are on a mission, and Sunday afternoon in Columbus, they checked off another box against Ohio State. The No. 20 Michigan Wolverines just marched into the hostile confines of the Schottenstein Center and did what they do best this year. They escaped with an 86-83 victory over their arch-rival, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Michigan, now 20-5 overall and 12-2 in the Big Ten, continues to sit atop the conference standings in what has been nothing short of a miraculous turnaround under first-year head coach Dusty May. Just last season, the Wolverines finished dead last under Juwan Howard (who will forever be a Michigan man). Now, they’re stacking wins like they’ve been doing this for years.
Ohio State (15-11, 7-8 Big Ten) has been solid at home, already knocking off ranked opponents Purdue and Maryland in Columbus. But an Ohio State team losing to Michigan at home? That’s starting to feel more like a tradition than an upset.
A Rivalry Thriller from Start to Finish
From the opening tip, this game was everything you could ask for in a heated Big Ten rivalry. Ohio State came out firing from deep, hitting 5-of-7 from three in the first seven minutes to take a 21-16 lead. But Michigan, refusing to let the Buckeyes feel too good about themselves, punched right back with an 8-0 run to reclaim the lead. The first half was a back-and-forth affair, but Michigan entered halftime up 44-39 thanks to a last-second putback before the buzzer, and big first half by Vlad Goldin.
The second half proved to be more of the same. Neither team could fully pull away. Every time Michigan threatened to extend its lead, Ohio State had an answer. The Buckeyes protected the ball like it was a winning lottery ticket, turning it over just twice in the second half while forcing Michigan into seven giveaways. That helped Ohio State chip away at Michigan’s lead throughout the half to make it a nail-biter of a finish.
With six minutes to go, Michigan held a 78-73 lead, seemingly poised to put the game to bed. Instead, the Wolverines clanked three consecutive open three-point looks, allowing Ohio State to claw back and eventually tie it up at 80-80 with two minutes remaining.
But when it mattered most, Michigan delivered. Second-chance points and clutch free throws (well, mostly clutch) sealed the deal. Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton had a golden opportunity in the final seconds but rushed an open jumper from about 10 feet out and missed everything, leading to a Rubin Jones rebound and subsequent trip to the free-throw line. One made free throw later, Michigan walked out of Columbus with its sixth straight victory.
Big Men, Big Impact
Michigan’s skyscrapers, Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf, continue to be a nightmare for opposing teams. Goldin led the charge with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Wolf poured in 17 points (15 in the second half) to go along with 11 rebounds and five assists.
Former Buckeye Roddy Gayle Jr. must have had this one circled on his calendar. The Ohio State transfer nearly notched a double-double of his own, finishing with nine points and eight rebounds off the bench.
As a team, Michigan controlled the glass, outrebounding Ohio State 43-28. The Wolverines shot 48.5% from the field and went 7-for-21 from three. Ohio State, despite its hot start from deep, finished just 9-for-25 from beyond the arc.
What’s Next?
The Wolverines now turn their attention to another heated rivalry, hosting Michigan State on Friday night in Ann Arbor. The Spartans trail Michigan by just one game in the Big Ten standings, making this a must-win for both teams. If recent history has taught us anything, it’s that Michigan basketball likes to keep things interesting. Expect another tight one.
For now, though, Michigan fans can savor yet another win over Ohio State. And really, is there anything sweeter than that?