Wolverines survive on Road vs Indiana, 70-67

On February 9, 2025By Littum

Bloomington, Ind. – The moment Michigan Basketball entered his foot in the assembly hall, it smelled blood in the water.

Indiana had lost four equal and six of seven overall and less than 24 hours earlier, head coach Mike Woodson did it officially this season would be his fourth and last responsibility for his Alma Mater. Wolverines simply had to do their jobs and make sure IU never got a chance to get any good Vibber on Saturday.

Michigan led by double digits less than five minutes in, and although the leading evaporated, Wolverines later built a 16-point pillow in the opening frame that sent fans booing to the break. Once again, IU stormed back and made a 17-point second half a draw by 3:49 to play but Wolverines survived down the stretch to hold onto a 70-67 Victory.

Michigan coach Dusty May, who made his debut as the head coach of his Alma Mater, received a high ovation when he was announced at the end of the pregame lineups. The most encouraging sign was the turnover was largely under control, only 12 for the game while the team’s stars closed the game.

Michigan’s “Area-51” Big Duo dominated again: Danny Wolf collected a game-high 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists, and Vlad Goldin tiled in 18 points and seven rebounds.

Three Donaldson, who had his worst game of the year, the last time he came to this state, jumped back with one of his best: 18 points, four rebounds and three assists.

No. 22 Michigan (18-5, 10-2 The Big Ten) Will climb in the rankings after its fourth equal victory. It has a change to avenge the most quirky loss of the season when No. 7 Purdue (17-5, 11-2 Big Ten) Come to Crisler Center Tuesday (7 pm, peacock). Michigan State is also 10-2 in league games.

Just enough closing acting

The game was attached to 59 when Donaldson grabbed a rebound, threw a sales market to Wolf, who then threw a touch pass to Goldin to slam to take a 61-59 lead with 3:05 to go, Michigan’s first bucket in almost four minutes.

After an IU (14-10, 5-8) airball on a 3 that would have been for the lead, Donaldson made a layup to go up four, so when IU cut the lead back to two, Wolf finished a scooping and 1 Layup to go up five.

After Malik Reneau hit a set -up to get within three with a minute to play, Wolf missed a jumper that put IU up with the ball down three with 26.4 seconds left after a Woodson hourout.

Mackenzie Mgbako, who had 15 points and 11 rebounds, got a disputed look from a screen rattling in and out, and when both teams dived on the loose ball, the possession play was awarded UM.

Donaldson missed a 1-and-1 before Trey Galloway shared a couple to make it a two-point game, but Wolf quietly hit four from the line to seal it.

Michigan’s Meltdown vs Indiana

Michigan’s 49-32 lead evaporated to only a nine-point pillow of less than three minutes behind an 8-0 Hoosier race.

This lead was seven moments later when a Sam Walters 3 was wiped out by a 3 -second violation on Will Tschetter, UM’s fourth revenue in the first seven minutes of half. At the next possession, Walters ended one of his toughest roofs of the year despite some contact, but IU always replied, led by Mgbako’s transition 3-Pointer and bucket at the edge to get inside one and send the crowd in a madness .

Wolf hit a circus that scooped up and swung a Reneau-Layup attempt at the other end before throwing a lob to Goldin who ended up setting up Michigan 59-52.

Instead of closing the game, IU went on a 7-0 race as UM went more than 3:50 without a point before Goldin’s slam gave it the lead for good.

Michigan’s crispy first half

Indiana had a 3:39 stretch in the middle of the first half, where it went on the 11-0 race to tie the game at 16 by 11:18 to play in half. Outside of the short decline, however, Wolverines dominated Hoosiers 43-16 in the second 16:21 on incredibly effective shooting.

UM had 50-40-90 divisions before the break, which made 14 of 27 (51.9%) of its field dimensions, 5 of 12 (41.7%) of its 3-pointers and 10 of 11 (90.9%) of its free throw. Donaldson scored eight of the team’s first nine before Nimari Burnett also buried a 3-ball to help UM take an early 16-5 lead.

Rubin Jones, who got his first start since the season opener instead of Roddy Gayle Jr., ended IU’s 11-0 race and put UM 19-16 with a 3 from the top of the key. Gayle made a layup, Goldin scored seven and Wolf hit a 3 before Donaldson scored four just in a 16-1 race to go up 35-19.

Later, Donaldson used his signature “Shammgod” crossover and left finish on the right side of the hanger to give UM an 18-point lead with 1:07 back in half, its largest of the opening fabric.

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Tony Garcia is Michigan Wolverines beat the author of Detroit Free Press. E -mail him at [email protected] and follow him on x at @RealTonyGarcia.