Michigan chokes away big lead, possibly tourney berth, in 74-69 loss to IU

Michigan choked away a 17-point lead with 12 minutes remaining, a second-round Big Ten tournament game to Indiana and quite possibly an NCAA Tournament berth. The Hoosiers stormed back to capture their first win over the Wolverines in 10 games, 74-69.

Freshman Caleb Houstan struggled out of the gate, a bad sign from the Wolverines, but U-M still played well. Point guard DeVante’ Jones scored Michigan’s first four points and was solid, but Houstan missed a wide open triple from the corner and airballed his second three-point attempt. 

Michigan was 0-for-3 from long range before a Hunter Dickinson triple to make it 13-10 at 13:25. 

The Wolverines still took a 10-7 lead into the first TV timeout after a coast-to-coast dunk from Diabate and a finish at the rim by Brooks. 

Two Xavier Johnson triples kept the Hoosiers close. A Dickinson half hook inside forced an Indiana timeout, though, and the Wolverines continued to go to him. He scored 11 points, mostly in the paint, and the Wolverines opened an 11-point lead.

Jones continued to be a catalyst, as well, notching 10 points in the first 14 minutes along with three rebounds. 

Dickinson went to the bench after scoring inside, picking up a technical foul for asking for chirping after a made bucket, asking for an and-one. Still, the Wolverines led 29-18 after his finish and one Miller Kopp free throw

The Hoosiers contingent came alive, though, following a Jordan Geronimo triple. Johns Jr. quieted them with A strong drive and finish. Eli Brooks answered another Indiana bucket with a triple from the corner and it was 34-23. 

Michigan had its biggest lead, 36-23, after two Diabate free throws. It was 41-26 with 2 remaining after four free throws. 

U-M took a t41-28 lead into the break. Dickonson led the Michigan scoring with 13 points, while Jones added 12 for the Wolverines.

Michigan falls apart in the second half

Indiana came out with more energy to pen the second half, scoring the first five points to cut the deficit to 41-33. Jones ended the run with a drive and finish, and it was 43-35 when the Hoosiers’ Johnson picked up his third foul. He’d remain in the game, and that would be key.

Houstan hit his first three at 17:40, and it was a big one. It pushed the lead back to 46-35 and silenced the pro-Indiana crowd that had come to life. A Houstan 24-footer then gave Michigan its biggest lead, 49-35. It was a game-high 16 on two Brooks free throws. 

Houstan silenced another mini-rally and pushed it back to 58-42 after a triple from the corner at 13:30, and the Wolverines took at 60-43 lead into the second TV timeout at 11:50. 

The Wolverines were attacking the rim and playing with great intensity defensively. 

The Hoosiers weren’t done, though. They scored five straight, including a Johnson triple in transition. It was a 10-point game with 10 to play on a steal and finish in transition. The Wolverines turned it over several times to give the Hoosiers and their crowd life.

Brooks finally silenced the masses with two free throws on a one-and-one to push the lead back to 10. 

Then it fell apart.

The Hoosiers continued to outhustle the Wolverines to stay within striking distance. It was 62-56 after yet another Jones turnover led to a bucket in transition. The Wolverines had seven turnovers in the half with 7:07 remaining and went over six minutes without a field goal at that point.

An alley-oop by Trayce Jackson-Davis cut it to four, and the Indiana crowd was electric. Miller Kopp tripled after another terrible Michigan possession, and the Hoosiers finally took the lead at 63-62. 

Two Brooks free throws gave the Wolverines the lead back, but it was short-lived. IU went up 67-64 on a Jackson-Davis hook shot, and Michigan was in trouble. They’d gone 9:36 without a field goal at the final TV timeout at 3:16.

Another turnover and a Johnson make pushed the lead to five. It was seven with 1:53, and Michigan’s streak of Big Ten Tournament opening wins dating back to 2007 was in serious jeopardy.

Jones finally scored Michigan’s first bucket in 11 minutes to cut it back to five. He missed a corner three after a steal, but Brooks’ triple in transition cut it to 71-69 at 44.1. U-M held, but an unforced turnover by Moussa Diabate after a rebound gave it back to the Hoosiers with 10.9 seconds remaining.

Johnson made two free throws to ice it with 9.7 seconds left, putting Michigan squarely back on the NCAA Tournament bubble.

The Wolverines had 10 turnovers in the second half and gave up a 28-4 run with 12:52 remaining in the game.

Jones led Michigan with 18 and Brooks notched 17 for Michigan in defeat.