Michigan basketball loses 11-point halftime lead in 70-68 loss to Virginia

Virginia was as advertised as the No. 3 team in the country, coming out on fire at Michigan Tuesday. The Cavaliers took a 9-2 lead, and only Hunter Dickinson’s play kept U-M in it early in a 70-68 Virginia win.

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The Wolverines weathered the early storm, and a Jett Howard triple brought Michigan back to within 9-7. Kobe Bufkin’s three-pointer made it an 11-10 contest, but the Wolverines had a hard time limiting the Cavaliers’ offense. They made six of their first 8 shots, all good looks, in taking a 13-10 lead into the first TV timeout. 

Michigan played through Dickinson on just about every possession. The Cavs doubled at times … when they did, the big man found open shooters. Howard’s second triple gave Michigan its first lead, 15-13, and Dickinson’s jumper made it 17-15 at the second timeout. 

The Wolverines made changes at 11:04 with both Jace and Jett Howard on the floor along with point guard Dug McDaniel, frosh big man Tarris Reed and Bufkin. The Wolverines actually expanded the lead to 23-15 on a Bufkin drive and finish and a Reed putback, followed by a Jett Howard drive and turnaround jumper. 

The group turned it over three times, though, and allowed the Cavaliers to cut it to four. It was three before Jett Howard found Joey Baker in the corner for a triple at 6:45, making it 28-22. 

Michigan pushed it to 7 a couple more times. Jett Howard’s third triple made it 38-31 at the 2-minute mark — Jaelin Llewellyn nailed a three at the 1-minute mark to push it to 8. Bufkin’s steal and finish finished an outstanding half with Michigan up 45-34. 

The Wolverines shot 61.3 percent from the floor and 53.8 from long range in the first 20 minutes. Dickinson finished with 14 in the half and Jett Howard 11. Michigan outrebounded the Cavs 16-9 and had 7 assists to only 4 turnovers. 

Second Half … Virginia comes out smoking, wins it late

It didn’t take Virginia long to get right back in the game. The Cavaliers started the half with a 10-3 run to cut it to 48-44 before Bufkin’s drive and finish pushed the lead back to 6. They made 6 of 7 in the first 4:27 to cut it to 50-48 and force a Michigan timeout. 

The Wolverines responded. They started cutting to the rim when Dickinson got doubled, and it created some looks. The lead was 56-50 at 12:13 after a pair of Dickinson free throws, but the center picked up a dead ball technical on a Michigan fast break, his third.

The Cavs made both free throws and kept pecking away. They finally tied it at 58 at the under-8:00 timeout, with Michigan turning it over four times in 4:49.

Virginia finally took the lead, 60-58, and kept going to work in the paint. U-M, meanwhile, managed only 15 points in the first 15 minutes of the half, trailing 65-60 at 5:12 after a Ben Vander Plas triple.

But the Wolverines rallied. They scored the next 5, tying it up on a Dickinson putback of his own miss inside. They had the ball on the rebound when Jett Howard went down with a leg injury, but then turned it over. Virginia couldn’t convert, though, and Dickinson went to the line for two free throws with 1:41 remaining when he was fouled in the post.

Howard checked back in before the shots, which Dickinson split.

Both teams missed at the rim, and Virginia had the ball with a minute left. Jayden Gardner hit a jumper, and Llewellyn turned it over on the other end with 15.8 seconds remaining, leading to an intentional foul. Reece Beekman made one of two, and Michigan quickly fouled Kihei Clark. He made both red throws for a 70-66 lead at 14.2 … but it wasn’t over. Dickinson scored, and Virginia missed two free throws.

Jett Howard hoisted a triple with less than a second remaining and appeared to get hit on the arm. There was no call, though, and the Cavaliers pulled out a 70-68 win.

Dickinson led Michigan with 23 points, while Jett Howard added 15 in defeat. The Wolverines will next play Kentucky in London Saturday.