Michigan hoops drops game to Indiana in Big Ten opener at Crisler Center

The Michigan Wolverines (4-5, 0-1 Big Ten) lost on Tuesday night in Ann Arbor with a 78-75 decision to the Indiana Hoosiers (7-1, 2-0 B1G). It was their fourth defeat in their last five games and another loss in a game that would have bolstered their early-season resume.

Olivier Nkamhoua led all scorers with 18 points for the Wolverines, while Will Tschetter chipped in with 17 of his own.

Next up is a trip to Iowa on Dec. 10 at 4:30 p.m. ET, followed by a home game against Eastern Michigan on Dec. 16 at 2:30 p.m.

First half

Indiana’s Malik Reneau got the scoring started before a 5-0 Michigan run thanks to a pair of Nimari Burnett free throws and a three-pointer from Terrance Williams II. The pace would stay high through the first media timeout with Indiana holding an 11-9 lead at the 15:00 mark. A 6-0 run in progress helped the Hoosiers out to a 15-9 lead with 12L22 left in the half. Michigan stormed back with a 6-0 run on an and-1 opportunity from Will Tschetter and a three-pointer from recently returned guard Jaelin Llewellyn, tying the game at 15-all with 11:24 to go.

A 1-for-11 stretch from the floor at one point in the half with Indiana taking a 7-point lead with 8:01 remaining at 28-21. Signs of life returned to the Michigan offense after with an 8-0 run spurred by free throws from Olivier Nkamhoua, a Williams three-pointer and Tarris Reed splitting a pair of free throws with 5:39 on the clock. That narrowed the Indiana lead to 28-27.

The Hoosiers were able to push their lead back u to four after a three-pointer from MacKenzie Mgabko with 5:05 left at 33-29 Indiana. Michigan responded with an 8-0 lead from there on a layup and jumper from Nkamhoua, a fastbreak dunk for Reed and a pair of Dug McDaniel free throws to take a 37-33 lead at 2:18. Indiana hit a pair of free throws and grabbed alayup late, but Williams finished out the half with a paint shot that sent the Wolverines into the locker room with a lead.

It was a sloppy half for both teams, wh combined for 19 turnovers between the two of them. Indiana had 10 of them, while Michigan had 9.

Michigan 39, Indiana 37

Second half

Indiana went on a quick 4-0 to start the half before Nkamhoua caught fire, scoring U-M’s first eight points of the half to help maintain a 47-43 lead at the 15:33 mark and first media timeout. The Hoosiers went on a 6-2 run from there and tied the game at 49-49 at the 12:08 mark. An and-1 situation for Tray Jackson helped U-M take a three-point lead at 52-49 with 11:46 left.

Indiana got a layup from Anthony Walker at 10:19 to trim the lead to one point before Tschetter hit a paint shot to push the lead back to 54-51 with 10:01 to go. McDaniel hit a paint jumper that extended the lead to 56-51, forcing an Indiana timeout with 9:31 remaining.

A Tschetter three-pointer helped U-M extend its lead to 59-53 before a 7-0 run from the Hoosiers that allowed them to take the lead back to 60-59 at the 7:30 mark. Three quick points from Michigan on free throws from Tschetter and Burnett allowed U-M to take the lead back at 62-60 with 6:45 to go.

Indiana went back ahead at the 5:27 mark after a 6-2 run that was ended by a Tschetter fast break layup, tying the game at 66-66 with 4:49 to go. Following a media timeout at 4:19, McDaniel’s jumper helped U-M again a 68-67 lead, answered by Reneau. McDaniel followed it with a pair of free throws that were answered by Reneau at the other end. McDaniel hit a free throw at the three-minute mark that tied the game at 71-all with 2:59 to go.

The Hoosiers got a layup from Trey Galloway at 2:35 that set up an and-1 opportunity that was squandered, giving Indiana a 73-71 lead. Nkamhoua tied the game with a jumper to set the score at 73-all with 1:23 to go before an Indiana timeout.

IU’s Kel’el Ware hit a jumper with 53 seconds left to push the lead to 75-73, forcing a U-M timeout. McDaniel split a pair of free throws to draw a little closer at 75-74 with 35 seconds to go. A play that went out of bounds under the basket with 6 seconds to go was awarded to Michigan, but a review showed that Reed touched the ball right before it went out of bounds. Indiana was able to close out the game at the free throw line with Mgbako hitting a pair to extend the lead to 77-74 with 5 seconds left.

McDaniel split a pair of free throws to put things at 77-75 with three seconds to go and U-M fouled with 2.2 seconds left. Galloway missed his first free throw before Michigan called timeout and split the second. Michigan called timeout down 78-75, then Indiana deflected the inbounds pass to seal the win.

Indiana 78, Michigan 75

Michigan vs. Indiana final box score, stats