Michigan basketball falls for eighth time in last 11 games in loss to Minnesota

The Michigan Wolverines started the 2024 slate of its schedule the same way it ended 2023 – with a loss in a winnable home game. The latest setback came via a 73-71 loss to Minnesota on Thursday night, its third-straight loss at eighth defeat in the last 11 games since starting the season 3-0. Michigan is now 6-8 on the season (1-2 Big Ten).

Nimari Burnett led Michigan with 17 points, while Olivier Nkamhoua had 16 points in the loss. Tarris Reed had 14 points and 11 rebounds, but left late in the game with an apparent foot/ankle injury.

Michigan is now 3-14 in games decided by four points or less in regulation or overtime over the last two seasons. Here is the recap from Thursday night’s game in Ann Arbor.

First half

Sophomore center Tarris Reed got the scoring started with a layup at the 18:52 mark of the first half before Minnesota tyied the game 30 seconds later at 2-2. Dug McDaniel hit a three-pointer at the 18:09 mark to take an early 5-2 lead. The Wolverines would lead 9-8 at the under-16 media timeout after layups from Terrance Williams II and Olivier Nkamhoua.

Minnesota would put together a quick 4-0 scoring purst together to take a 12-9 lead at the 14:23 mark, whcih was answered by a Nimari Burnett three-pointer at 14:06 to tie the game at 12-all. Minnesota’s Elijah Johnson hit a three pointer to answer and put the Gophers back up 15-12, which ewas fllowed by a 5-0 Michigan run thanks to a pair of free throws from McDaniel and a three-pointer from Will Tschetter, jumping back ahead 17-15 at the 12:13 mark. Nkamhoua had a pair of paint shots go rhough, while Williams hit a pair of technical foul free throws to help to a 23-23 tie with 9:55 left in the half. After a layup from Pharrel Payne, Minnesota held a 25-23 lead at the under-8 media timeout.

Michigan went on a 6-0 thanks to a pair of free throws from Reed, a layup from Tscehtter and paint shot from Burnett to take a 29-25 lead to force a timeout by Minnesota. Dawson Garcia of the Gophers broke the run with a layup shortly after, getting his own rebound and putting it in to narrow things to 29-27 at 5:35. Reed put Michigan back up 31-27 after a dunk at 4:41, which was answered by a Minnesota layup at 3:55. Michigan led 31-29 at the under-4 media timeout.

The Wolverines closed out the half on a 6-2 run thanks to a pair of layups from Reed and a jumper from Burnett, heading into the locker room up 37-33.

Second half

Michigan was able to get its lead up to seven points a little over three minutes in with Nkamhoua hitting a pair of threes and Reed scoring on a layup, with U-M up 47-40 at the 15:25 mark. Minnesota answered with a 7-0 run to tie the game at 47-all at the 13:22 mark of the second half. Michigan went back up be three on a Reed free throw and Burnett layup taking a 50-47 lead with 12:05 remaining.

Garcia made a pair of free throws to narrow the lead to 50-49 before a dunk by Tray Jackson, who later split a pair of free throws. A Garcia layup, a layup from Braeden Carrington and paint shot from Garcia helped Minnesota out to a 56-53 lead and 7-0 run at the 8:46 mark. A pair of paint shots from McDaniel helped Michigan take the lead back at 57-56 with 6:51 to go. A threee-pointer from Minnesota’s Hawkins hit a three-pointer at 6:31, but was answered 20 seconds later by a layup from Burnett. Michigan and Minnesota were tied 59-all with 5:44 remaining and the under-8 media timeout.

A personal 4-0 run from Minnesota’s Payne extended the Gopher lead to four points at 63-59, answered by a Reed free throw. Gopher Mike Mitchell hit a three-pointer to extend the lead to 66-60 before a pair of Burnett free throws. Minnesota got a three-pointer from Hawkins to push Minnesota’s lead to 69-62 at the under-4 media timeout (3:39).

Nkamhoua and Burnett hit a pair of free throws to narrow the lead to 69-66 in favor of Minnesota with 3:11 to go. Minnesota’s Payne added to the lead with a dunk at 1:50. Reed injured his foot in the last two minutes of the game and had it wrapped behind the Michigan bench, missing time down the stretch.

Williams hit a three with 1:03 to go to help Michigan pull within two points at 71-69. Minnesota extended the lead to 73-69 on a dunk from Joshua Ola-Joseph with 36 seconds remaining before a pair of free throws from Nkamhoua to put things back at 73-71 with :26 on the clock. Nkamhoua missed a look from three that would’ve given Michigan the lead with 10 seconds left before the ball went out of bounds, ruled in favor of staying with the Wolverines. After a review, the call on the floor would stand with the Wolverines having a shot at the buzzer to win. McDaniel missed a shot in the paint, sealing Michigan’s fate with a loss.

Final Michigan vs. Minnesota box score