Instant Recap: Michigan basketball beats Buffalo in opener, 88-76
Buffalo came out with a chip in a Wednesday night game at Michigan, chirping and trying to force tempo. The Wolverines answered with a stunning first eight minutes, opening up an 11-point lead in the first seven minutes, and withstood a second half run for an 88-76 win.
Michigan’s blend of veterans and freshmen, inside play and out, overwhelmed the Bulls early. Freshman Caleb Houstan was one of the catalysts with eight early points, including a three-point play in transition and his first career triple. He also worked the glass, finishing with six rebounds to go with his 11 points.
A Terrance Williams drive and finish made it 30-16 at 10:30, and even veteran Adrien Nunez got into it. He scored five early points, including a long triple from the top the extended the lead to 33-17.
Freshman Moussa Diabate provided an early spark off the bench, on both ends. He stuffed the stat sheet with five points, three assists out of the post, two blocks and two rebounds in his first eight minutes.
Sophomore Williams (15 points, seven rebounds) added to the party with a banked three from the top, and one, to make it 40-19 at 6:22.
No matter the lineup, the Wolverines brought it on both ends. Freshman Frankie Collins and Nunez were on the floor when Michigan expanded its lead. The defense was stifling, and generally kept the Bulls to one shot.
Michigan kept the lead around 20 for most of the first half. Sophomore Hunter Dickinson went to work inside, scoring 10 points in his first 10 minutes. U-M made four of its first six triples and dominated with starting point guard DeVante’ Jones on the bench most of the half with two fouls, Houstan right behind him with two of his own.
The Wolverines took a 51-36 lead into the break after a Buffalo mini-run, still comfortably in control. The Bulls made only two of 16 triples.
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Jones tried set the tone for the second half, backing in and scoring to open the scoring. Buffalo, though responded. The Bulls cut it to 55-42 after an uncontested triple, forcing head coach Juwan Howard to call one of his timeouts.
Renaldo Segu’s step back jumper shot cut it to eight at 16:30, and it was game on.
Dickinson went back to work inside, and the Wolverines made a run of their own. He scored five straight to make it 64-51; Buffalo made another run, and a Jeenathan Williams triple cut it to eight again. He tied his career high with 28 to bring the Bulls within six.
Williams answered with a tough, step back jumper, one of several key plays for the sophomore down the stretch.
But the Bulls kept coming. It was a five-point game when Keishwan Bruten hit a triple at 7:00. At that point, Michigan had only 19 points in the second half and was 14 for 23 from the free throw line.
The Bulls had a chance to cut into the lead, but Williams held his ground on defense in the post. He then nailed a triple on the other end with 5:20 remaining to push the lead back to eight, 75-67. A Dickinson dunk pushed the lead back to 10, and the Wolverines were in great shape.
A drive and finish by fifth-year senior guard Eli Brooks and a triple by Houstan with 3:09 remaining made it 84-69 and ended the suspense.
Dickinson led Michigan with 27 points and six rebounds, going 11-for-17 from the floor.
