MENS BASKETBALL
Michigan 86, Purdue 68
ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS - Danny Wolf had 18 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, and No. 22 Michigan snapped a three-game losing streak with a 86-68 win over No. 20 Purdue Friday in a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal.
The second-seeded Wolverines (23-9) allowed the game's initial six points, then led for the final 37 minutes in an impressive bounce-back win to advance.
Eight Michigan players scored at least six points. Vladislav Goldin added 15 points and eight rebounds. Tre Donaldson had 13 points and Roddy Gayle Jr. scored 11.
Trey Kaufman-Renn led sixth-seeded Purdue (22-11) with 24 points and nine rebounds. Big Ten player of the year Braden Smith, who averaged 24 points and 8.5 assists in two regular-season meetings vs. Michigan, finished with 12 points on 5-of-18 shooting, 2 of 10 from 3-point range. He had six assists. THE TAKEAWAY
Purdue: The Boilermakers have a strong 1-2 offensive punch in Kaufman-Renn and Smith, but NCAA Tournament survival likely hinges on the supporting cast, which is capable but often inconsistent. Michigan: A much-needed confidence boost for the Wolverines after a lackluster regular-season finish. When this team shares the ball (25 assists) and limits turnovers (six), it's a tough out. KEY MOMENT
Michigan opened the second half with a 12-5 spurt to build a 52-41 lead after a Donaldson 3-pointer. KEY STAT
Despite Smith being the league leader in assists, Michigan had a 25-11 edge in the category.
March 14, 2025