Central Michigan stuns Michigan basketball: Recap, box score
Michigan basketball (7-5, 1-0 B1G) thought it had a non-conference finale tune-up on its hands when the Central Michigan Chippewas came to Ann Arbor on Thursday night. Instead, it got another dogfight. This time, it got bitten on the rear end, losing to a 5-8 CMU squad 63-61.
CMU was up for the task in this game despite being a 21-point underdog at tipoff. The Chippewas got after every loose ball and threw Michigan off balance.
Next up for the Wolverines is the official start of the Big Ten season when Maryland comes to Crisler Center on Jan. 1 at 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.
First half
Michigan won the opening tip, but came up empty on its first trip down the court. On its first defensive possession, it forced a shot clock violation against the struggling Chippewas. The next time down the floor, freshman wing Jett Howard scored on a fast break dunk assisted by senior center Hunter Dickinson. Howard would add 3 more points thanks to a shot from the perimeter at the 17:47 mark and sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin had a layup 30 seconds later to help U-M out to a 7-0 lead. CMU put 4 quick points on the board before a jumper from freshman guard Dug McDaniel boosted the lead to 9-4 at the 15:16 mark and the first media timeout.
Central Michigan came to play and hung around, though. The two squads would trade baskets over the next few minutes, but 3-pointers from Howard and McDaniel helped Michigan to a 16-9 lead with 13:17 left in the half. The Chippewas were able to get the deficit down to 15-13 at the 9:45 mark. The Wolverines would go on an 8-2 run from there, taking a 23-15 lead with 5:49 remaining. A CMU jumper trimmed the Michigan lead to 23-17 at the under-4 media timeout. Eventually, CMU would take a 27-25 lead in the late stages of the half before a Joey Baker 3-pointer sent the Wolverines up 28-27 at the half.
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Second half
Michigan came out with a punch of its own to start the 2nd half of play with a 7-2 run to go up 35-29 with 17:29 remaining. A 7-0 run from the Chippewas helped them take the lead back at 36-35, immediately answered by junior forward Terrance Williams. A CMU layup helped them take the lead back at 38-37 with 15:16 to go in the contest. Two free throws from Dickinson allowed Michigan to take the lead back at 39-38 with 15:16 to go.
However, the Chippewas continued to battle and stay in the ballgame. They would take a 42-39 lead on a quick 4-point spurt before Michigan answered with 5 points of its own, putting things at 44-42. CMU followed with a 7-0 run to take a 49-44 lead with 10:30 remaining. Michigan was able to tie the game on a Bufkin layup and free throw after the basket, followed by a Dickinson layup to tie the game at 49-49. That would be where things stood at the 7:44 mark and under-8 media timeout.
CMU would hold onto its slim lead over the next four minutes with Howard and Bufkin trying to will Michigan to a win. Despite their efforts, the Wolverines would go into the final media timeout trailing 60-58 with 3:14 to go. A pair of McDaniel free throws tied the game at 60-60 shortly after the media timeout. Dickinson split a pair of free throws at the 2:27 mark to give Michigan a 61-60 lead. The score would stay that way with 30 seconds remaining before CMU called timeout with possession.
CMU’s Reggie Bass hit a 3-pointer with 11.6 seconds remaining to go up 63-61. The game would end that way.
Michigan basketball vs. CMU: Final box score, stats
