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Michigan obliterates Western Kentucky in non-conference finale

Anthony Broomeby:Anthony Broome•12/29/24•

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NCAA Basketball: Western Kentucky at Michigan
Dec 29, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Nimari Burnett (4) grabs the rebound in the second half against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The Michigan Wolverines hit a program-record-tying 19 three-pointers on Sunday night, smashing Western Kentucky 112-64 at Crisler Center to close out non-conference play at 10-3.

All five Michigan starters finished the game in double figures, led by 17 points apiece from center Vlad Goldin and guard Nimari Burnett. Nine different players hit triples in the game for the Wolverines.

Here is the full game recap from Ann Arbor.

First half

Michigan opened the game on a 4-0 run, led by a pair of Roddy Gayle Jr. free throws and a layup from Danny Wolf at the 19:02 mark. WKU’s Braxton Bayless hit a shot in the paint to narrow the lead to 4-2 at 18:47 before a 9-0 run – and three-straight triples from Nimari Burnett, Gayle and Vlad Goldin – to push the early lead to 13-2 at the 17:19 mark. The Hilltoppers stopped the bleeding with a layup at 16:37 before another three-pointer from Michigan at 16:17, this time from Tre Donaldson to push the lead to 16-4. WKU ripped off a quick 10-2 run to cut the lead to 18-14 at 14:38, and it would be the closest the game was the rest of the way.

Michigan responded with a 10-2 run to jump back ahead 28-16 at the 11:56 mark of the first half. WKU would go on a 4-2 spurt to cut the lead to 30-20 before the Wolverines began to blow the barn doors off of them. A 9-0 scoring run was caped off by a three-pointer from LJ Cason to push the U-M lead to 39-20 with 7:05 remaining. WKU stopped the run with a three of its own before trading buckets on the next four possessions, though U-M would have the upper hand with a pair of Justin Pippen triples. The Wolverines would lead 45-27 with 5:48 left in the half.

Michigan continued to hit the accelerator over the next few minutes, going on another 10-0 scoring run to push its lead to 55-27 with 2:37 to go. Each team would score a pair of baskets down the stretch with Michigan up 59-31 at the half. Michigan shot 57.6% in the first half and hit 11 three-pointers.

Second half

Michigan came out of the locker room continuing its torrid pace, going on a 7-0 run right out of the gate thanks to triples from Burnett and Goldin and a Donaldson free throw (66-31, 18:48). The Wolverines would maintain a 35-point advantage at the under-16 media timeout up 72-37. A Sam Walters three at 14:55 pushed the deficit to a game-high 36 points at 75-39.

The Hilltoppers were able to cut back into the lead with a 5-0 run to narrow things to 75-44 at 13:56 before Michigan fired right back with a 12-2 scoring run. U-M held an 87-46 advantage with 10:23 to go. Before it was all said and done, it was an 18-4 run that saw the Wolverines jump up 93-48 with 8:43 left in the game.

Western Kentucky cut the lead back down to 41 at 93-52, but Michigan continued its demoralizing pace down the stretch. Another scoring run, this time a 9-0 spurt, pushed Michigan’s lead to 50 points at 102-52 with 6:05 to go. The Hilltoppers got their last scoring run of the night off their chests, going on a 7-1 run in a little under two minutes to narrow the lead to 103-59 with 3:52 remaining.

Dusty May began to empty his bench in the waning moments 7 of its last 9 points of the night coming at the free throw line, leading 110-62 with 1:13 on the clock. Jace Howard put the final basket in for Michigan with a few seconds remaining, helping preserve a 112-64 victory.

Michigan vs. Western Kentucky box score

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