The Michigan Wolverines overcame an eight-point second-half deficit, then missed a last-second shot to win in regulation, but ultimately edged the visiting Ohio State Buckeyes, 76-74, in overtime on Tuesday night in front of a packed house at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor.
Tim Hardaway Jr. was the offensive star of the evening for the Wolverines, and finished the Big Ten matchup with 23 points, 18 of which he tallied on six three-point buckets -- including five straight attempts in the second half -- which electrified the home crowd. Trey Burke, who missed at the buzzer in regulation time to leave the score knotted at 72, sank U-M's only basket in the extra period, a three-point shot that gave his team the margin they needed to fend off the Buckeyes. Glenn Robinson III accounted for the Maize and Blue's only other point in overtime on a free throw. Ohio State had a final chance to tie or win the game when Robinson III missed his second free throw attempt, but Aaron Craft was unable to convert on a late drive to the hoop, which sealed a thriller for Michigan and its fans.
The victory over the Buckeyes lifted the Wolverines to 21-2 overall on the season, and 8-2 in Big Ten play. U-M came into the contest ranked number three in the nation, two notches below where they were before their 81-73 road loss to Indiana in Bloomington last Saturday. No.2-ranked Florida lost to Arkansas on Tuesday, which could give Michigan a chance to move up when the latest national polls are released next Monday.
Learn more about the win over OSU in a recap on U-M's official athletic website, MGoBlue.com, and on ESPN.com. Keep tabs on Michigan men's basketball on Facebook and Twitter.
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