Michigan falls to Illinois in double-overtime thriller, 91-87
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Michigan Wolverines basketball would’ve been in the projected NCAA Tournament field with a win at Illinois Thursday night. The Maize and Blue had a shot to win it at the end of regulation and one to tie it in double-overtime, and had a 7-point lead in the first extra session, but at the end of a thrilling 50-minute affair, it was the Illini who came out on top, 91-87.
Here’s a recap of how the game unfolded.
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First half
Michigan started out hot with a junior center Hunter Dickinson made three-pointer. Sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin followed up with another, before Illinois got on the board with a two from forward Dain Dainja. He had all 4 for the Illini when they trailed 10-4 at the under-16 media timeout. Michigan freshman guard Dug McDaniel had a pair of made mid-range jumpers, exploiting Illinois’ ball-screen drop coverage.
Michigan began the game 4-of-7 from the field. Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. picked up his first foul on a charge drawn by Bufkin.
Shannon had also drawn two fouls, though, as well — one on redshirt freshman forward Will Tschetter and one on McDaniel. He’s second in the Big Ten in fouls drawn per 40 minutes.
Illinois wing Matthew Mayer was going after Howard, who’s had his defensive struggles, scoring two-straight buckets on him — a three from an off-ball screen and a drive to the bucket.
Dickinson had 3 early turnovers and was having issues holding onto the ball. The Illini had 4 points off of those giveaways.
A McDaniel triple put Michigan ahead 15-11 at the 13:43 mark.
Illinois guard Sencire Harris went down holding his head at the 12:05 mark, so officials stopped play. Michigan had the ball but had it out top. Michigan held a 15-13 edge at that point.
The game continued to go back and forth, before Mayer split a pair of free throws then hit a three-pointer to give the Illini their first lead of the game, 21-20 at 9:12. He flopped on his made three — a technical foul — and Bufkin knocked down the one free throw.
Michigan junior forward Terrance Williams II had a put-back on a missed three from graduate guard Joey Baker to regain the edge, 23-21. That’s where things stood at the media timeout at 7:50.
Turnovers continued to be killer for the Maize and Blue, who had 7 at that point (Illinois turned those into 7 points). McDaniel gave it away with just under four minutes until halftime, stolen by forward Coleman Hawkins, who was fouled by Howard but missed the front end of a one-and-one.
Michigan went on a three-plus minute scoring drought but still held the lead because Illinois was 1 of its last 10 shooting from the field at the 3:43 mark.
Dainja tied it up with a layup to make it 27-27 with under three minutes left.
Michigan junior guard Jace Howard committed the Wolverines’ 8th turnover of the game, which led to another Illinois runout. Harris, who reentered the game at the 7:07 mark, finished with a transition dunk to make it 29-27. Dickinson got the lead back with a nice post move and finish over Hawkins with two minutes to go.
Illinois guard Ty Rodgers, a Michigan native, made some key late-half plays. His transition layup gave his team a 31-29 lead with 1:09 remaining, then had a put-back dunk to make it 33-31 (Illinois lead) after two made free throws from Michigan freshman forward Tarris Reed Jr. That was the score at halftime, after McDaniel missed the front end of a one-and-one when he was fouled with 1 second left.
Their 8 turnovers plagued the Maize and Blue in the first half, but Illinois shot only 36 percent from the field. Mayer and Dickinson led all scorers with 9 points.
Second half
Michigan began the second half by turning it over, but Illinois couldn’t make the Wolverines pay on the other end.
Bufkin (1) and McDaniel (2) combined for 3 made free throws that gave the Wolverines a 34-33 advantage early in the half.
A Howard three-pointer at 17:29 gave Michigan a 37-36 lead. The Illini came back with 5-straight points to take a 41-37 edge, but Michigan tied it up with a Dickinson hook shot and Bufkin layup. It was 41-41 at the under-16 media timeout at 15:30.
Illinois ripped off a 4-0 run with two made free throws and a Hawkins dunk. Williams missed a layup in between the two from Michigan. The Wolverines were shooting 10-of-27 (37 percent) on twos at that point.
The run continued to 9-consecutive Illini points — thanks in part to 4-straight missed field goals from Michigan — before Dickinson stopped it with a layup. The Illini had their largest lead, 50-41, after a Rodgers layup at 13:24.
It was 54-45, Illini, with 11:43 to go after two made free throws from Illinois guard RJ Melendez.
Bufkin was fouled at the 9:19 mark and went to the bench to get medical attention. His finger appeared to be dislocated. He proceeded to knock down both free throws, then hit 2 straight three-pointers. That was part of a 10-0 Michigan run to take a 57-56 lead and a personal 8-0 surge. Illinois head coach Brad Underwood called timeout at the 7:34 mark.
Dickinson missed 2 free throws that would’ve put Michigan up by three points with just under seven minutes to play.
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The Illini answered the Michigan run with an 11-4 surge of their own, capped off by 5-straight points by Melendez. He hit 2 free throws and made a corner three-pointer at 4:10.
Michigan stopped the bleeding with a Bufkin made baseline jumper. He also drew the foul but missed the and-one free throw. It was 68-63, Illinois, at the 2:59 mark.
Michigan scratched and clawed back once again. Bufkin got a layup, Dickinson scored a two and then Howard nailed a three to tie the game at 70-70 with 47 seconds left. Dickinson assist on the biggest shot of the game.
Michigan got a stop and had the ball for what could’ve been last shot. Dickinson missed a shot in deep, and Hawkins’ long full-court heave didn’t go at the buzzer.
Overtime
Howard stayed hot and hit a three to start off overtime. That put the Maize and Blue up 73-70.
The Wolverines started to feed Dickinson. He made 2 out of 3 hook shots. Melendez had a layup for the Illini. Michigan held a 77-72 lead at the 2:48 mark, when Illinois called timeout.
Michigan got up 81-74 after two made Howard free throws at 1:49. Then came an Illinois run that sent it to double overtime. Shannon had an and-one just 11 seconds later. Rodgers and Shannon each had layups to tie it up. Shannon’s was an and-one with the foul on Reed — he switched a ball screen and ended up on him; there was no help — but Shannon missed the free throw.
Michigan swung the ball around but Baker missed a three with 4 seconds left. Illinois started its break but didn’t get a shot off in time. The game was all knotted up at 81-81 and headed to a second overtime session.
Double overtime
Bufkin missed a baseline layup on Michigan’s possession after winning the tip. Mayer nailed a three-pointer over Williams to go up three. Bufkin missed a triple, and it turned into transition on the other end. Mayer made a layup to make it 86-81 Illini.
Dickinson was fouled going up for a shot, but the officials reviewed it for a hook and hold. It didn’t take, and Dickinson nailed both free throws, stopping what was a 12-0 Illinois run. A Dickinson layup 30 seconds later put Michigan down three points, 88-85.
The Wolverines got two consecutive stops, but couldn’t score on the other end. Howard lost the ball and Illinois got possession on a jump ball. Then he missed an open three the next time down. Illinois called timeout up three points with 1:20 to go.
Dickinson got it on the post, made a hook shot and drw a Hawkins foul. He missed the free throw at the 41-second mark, however.
Shannon missed a three but got his own offensive rebound with 11 seconds left. Howard had no choice but to foul him, his fifth, ending his night. Shannon made both free throws to put his team up, 90-87 with 10 seconds left. Illinois called timeout.
Michigan inbounded it from under its own basket, raced up the floor and called timeout. The Wolverines got an inbound to Baker for a clean look at a three-pointer, but he air-mailed it.
Shannon was fouled with 2.5 seconds to go, in the double bonus, and made 1 free throw. Bufkin fired a shot at the buzzer, but even if it went in Michigan would have still lost.
Dickinson led all scorers with 31 points, but Michigan fell 91-87.
Illinois 91, Michigan 87: Box score
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