Field Level Media
Dec 5, 2023
Kel'el Ware scored on a right-handed hook with 53 seconds remaining, giving Indiana the lead for good in a 78-75 victory over Michigan on Tuesday in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The Hoosiers (7-1, 2-0 Big Ten) shot 51.7 percent from the field and won their fourth straight game overall and their fourth straight against Michigan.
The Wolverines (4-5, 0-1) played on their home court for the first time in five games but still dropped their conference opener. Neither team led by more than two for the final eight minutes until Mackenzie Mgbako's two free throws put Indiana up 77-74 with five seconds left.
Indiana dominated in the post. Forward Malik Reneau had five points in the last 4 1/2 minutes and led the team with 15, and 7-footer Ware had 13 points and eight rebounds.
Mgbako had 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
Michigan's Olivier Nkamhoua, a 6-9 graduate transfer from Tennessee, scored the first eight points of the second half for the Wolverines and finished with a team-high 18 points.
Sixth man Will Tschetter had 17 points for Michigan on 6-of-7 shooting, but Wolverines guard Dug McDaniel, who entered the game averaging 20.3 points, missed a pair of key free throws in the final 35 seconds and finished with just 13 points on 3-of-14 shooting from the field.
Michigan shot 47.3 percent on the night but only connected on 4 of 17 3-point attempts. The Wolverines have lost three in a row.
Indiana's CJ Gunn scored eight points and had four steals.
Neither team led by more than one point in a three-minute run until Trey Galloway's layup put Indiana up 73-71 with 2:35 left.
Tschetter's 3-pointer gave Michigan a 59-53 lead with 8:59 left, but Gunn hit a 3-pointer from the top of the circle to give the Hoosiers their first lead in 11 minutes at 60-59.
The Hoosiers' last loss was a 77-57 defeat to then-no. 5 UConn on Nov. 19 in New York.
--Field Level Media