Field Level Media
Jan 12, 2021
No. 7 Michigan overwhelmed No. 9 Wisconsin with a 36-3 outburst spanning the two halves and rolled to a 77-54 victory on Tuesday at Ann Arbor, Mich.
Mike Smith compiled 16 points and six assists while Franz Wagner supplied 15 points and 10 rebounds for Michigan (11-0, 6-0 Big Ten), which maintained sole possession of first place in the conference.
Isaiah Livers contributed 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and three blocks for the Wolverines while Hunter Dickinson added 12 points, six rebounds and three blocks.
Michigan's lead topped out at 40 points midway through the second half.
D'Mitrik Trice's 20 points led Wisconsin (10-3, 4-2), which was held to 30.8 percent shooting from the floor. Micah Potter tossed in 12 points but also committed a team-high four turnovers.
The Badgers went scoreless in the last 6:19 of the first half as Michigan extended a three-point advantage to a 40-23 halftime lead.
Dickinson got the run going with a layup. Livers drained a 3-pointer before Wagner stole the ball from Trice and dunked.
Another Trice turnover turned into a Smith layup. Wagner, who scored a game-high 11 first-half points, drove to the basket for another dunk after Nate Reuvers missed a shot. Smith completed the onslaught with a step-back 3-pointer from the top of the key.
The Badgers were held to 30.3 percent shooting in the half and committed seven turnovers that the Wolverines turned into 11 points. In contrast, Michigan shot 53.3 percent and made just four turnovers.
Aleem Ford ended Wisconsin's drought with a three-point play 18 seconds into the second half.
That did nothing to cool off the Wolverines. They reeled off the next 22 points while the Badgers went scoreless for more than seven minutes.
Dickinson started that outburst with two free throws and converted three inside baskets before the run was over. Smith scored seven points during that span and Chaundee Brown completed it with a put-back dunk that increased the lead to 62-26.
Trice hit a 3-pointer to finally get the Badgers back on the scoreboard.
A Brown layup with 10:47 to play gave Michigan its biggest lead, 69-29.
--Field Level Media