After losing their first match up against the Purdue Boilermakers this season by 27 points in West Lafayette, the Wolverines set out to even the series hosting the No. 7 ranked Boilermakers at Crisler Tuesday night.
Michigan started slow, failing to score on their first three possessions of the game (two of which resulted in turnovers) and creating opportunities for Purdue that they took advantage of to go up 7-0. At that point, the thought in everyone’s mind was surely a repeat of the first meeting. However, Michigan bounced back and even took a one point lead at the thirteen minute mark in the opening half.
Behind the red hot shooting of Braden Smith, Purdue put together a 19-9 run to increase their lead to eleven points with about three minutes left in the first period. Despite this, Michigan kept fighting and never let the game get out of reach, eventually going on a 9-0 run of their own to close out the first half. At the break, Michigan’s deficit was only two points, 37-35, with Smith leading all scorers with 14 points for Purdue.
The Boilermakers came out of the locker room at halftime scoring the first four points and looking to put some distance between them and the Wolverines. Purdue pushed their lead up to 10 points with Trey Kaufman-Renn getting hot and scoring six of the team’s first eleven points of the second half. But Michigan never quit behind the energy of a sold out Crisler Arena.
The determined Wolverines’ starting five played what was one their best halves together, keeping the game close and eventually seeing their first lead in the second half when Vlad Goldin made a free throw with just under six minutes left in the game. The teams then traded baskets and leads before Danny Wolf put the Wolverines in front for good with a layup with about two minutes left. Goldin extended that lead to four points, making three of four foul shots on back to back trips to the line. It also didn’t help Purdue as two of their big men fouled out, giving Michigan an edge in the paint and on the boards down the stretch. The Wolverines’ Rubin Jones took full advantage and put the exclamation point on the game with a rebound / put back dunk with only 39 seconds left bringing the maize and blue fans to their feet. The Boilermakers Smith did his best to keep his team from losing the game making two three pointers in the final 22 seconds of the game but his last three as time expired was off giving Michigan the 75-73 victory. With the win, Michigan now sits alone in first place in the Big Ten Conference.
Smith finished the game with 24 points to lead all scorers for Purdue. Danny Wolf led Michigan with 15 points in a game where Michigan had a fairly balanced offense with five players scoring nine points or more.
Michigan (19-5) will next head to Columbus for a match up with the Ohio State Buckeyes (14-10) on Sunday. Purdue (19-6) returns home to regroup before taking on the Wisconsin Badgers (19-5) on Saturday at home.
Final Score: Michigan 75 – Purdue 73
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