Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Michigan Wolverines Match Player Stats On Feb 18, 2021

Franz Wagner had 20 points, seven rebounds and three assists and No. 3 Michigan continued its dominance over Rutgers with a 71-64 victory Thursday at Ann Arbor, Mich.

Mike Smith had 12 points for Michigan (15-1, 10-1 Big Ten), which has won all 14 meetings in program history against the Scarlet Knights. Hunter Dickinson contributed 10 points and eight rebounds while Isaiah Livers added seven points, six rebounds, three blocks and three assists.

The Wolverines have won twice since a three-week layoff due to coronavirus issues at the Michigan campus.

Jacob Young's 16 points topped Rutgers (12-8, 8-8), which had won five of its previous six games. Myles Johnson added 13 points, Ron Harper Jr. had 12 and Caleb McConnell chipped in 10 points with seven rebounds.

Michigan had a 40-27 advantage in rebounding and limited Rutgers to 40.3 percent shooting from the field.

The Wolverines took the lead midway through the first half and gradually built it to 37-28 by halftime.

Wagner scored nine points by the break as eight of the nine Wolverines who played in the first half had at least one basket.

Rutgers scored the first basket of the second half but Michigan responded with an 8-0 spurt to take a 45-30 lead.

Dickinson and Smith made free throws before Dickinson dunked off a Wagner feed. A baseline shot by Livers completed that run.

Wagner soon had a personal 5-0 run to make it 50-34. Wagner found Dickinson for another dunk with 12:25 remaining to make it 54-37.

The Wolverines went scoreless for a 5:34 stretch, but the Scarlet Knights were only able to shave five points off their deficit. Livers ended Michigan's drought with a free throw for a 57-44 advantage with 6:18 remaining.

Smith's layup with 5:08 left nudged the lead to 59-45. Rutgers pulled within 60-49 when Young stripped the ball from Smith near midcourt and scored a transition layup.

A three-point play by Johnson with 1:51 remaining cut Michigan's lead to eight points. Wagner put the game away with a 3-pointer from the wing.

--Field Level Media