Photos by: Aaron J. Thornton
In one of the most anticipated non-conference matchups of the season, the No. 1 ranked Michigan Wolverines squared off against the No. 3 ranked Duke Blue Devils in Washington, D.C., delivering a battle worthy of its billing. When the dust settled, it was Duke that prevailed, handing Michigan a hard fought 68-63 defeat and snapping the Wolverines’ brief stay atop the national rankings. The loss also extended Michigan’s drought against Duke, a program it had not defeated in men’s basketball since 2008.
Michigan came out assertive, setting the tone with the game’s first two baskets from Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. to grab an early 4-0 lead. Duke answered immediately with a 5-0 run of its own, and from that point forward the contest was a relentless back and forth clash. The first half alone featured 13 lead changes and 5 ties, with neither side able to create any large separation.
Foul trouble quickly became a defining storyline in the game. Mara was forced to the bench for Michigan after picking up his second foul with only six minutes off the clock in the opening half. Not long after, Duke’s starting point guard Caleb Foster found himself in similar trouble with two early fouls and taking a seat. Mara returned for the Wolverines, but then had a third foul called on him with about 7 minutes remaining sending him back to Michigan’s sideline.
Duke seized a narrow halftime edge, converting two free throws with under one second remaining to break a tie going into the locker room. Both teams shot efficiently from the field in the first half, but Michigan struggled slightly more from beyond the arc. The Wolverines connected on just 2 of 13 three-point attempts (23%), a number that would ultimately prove costly. Still, Yaxel Lendeborg kept Michigan within striking distance, pouring in 16 first half points, including 15 of the team’s first 24. Duke countered with balanced scoring, led by Cam Boozer’s nine first half points.
With three fouls, Mara did not start the second half, but his return after the under 16 media timeout provided an immediate spark. He scored on his first possession back and followed with two blocks over the next two minutes, reasserting Michigan’s defensive presence in the paint. Later in the half, the Wolverines appeared to catch a break when Boozer picked up his fourth foul with 8:42 remaining. However, Duke responded with poise, tightening defensively and refusing to allow Michigan the sustained second half run it had hoped for and had seen in recent games.
With just under four minutes to play, Michigan trimmed the deficit to one point, setting up a dramatic finish. But when Boozer re-entered, he delivered, showing exactly why he is the projected national player of the year. The freshman star scored seven of Duke’s final nine points, controlling the tempo and knocking down critical shots to secure the 68-63 victory.
Statistically, the margin for error was razor thin. Michigan committed only seven turnovers, typically a winning formula, but lost the battles on the glass and in total assists, two categories that have been a key part of their success this season. The inability to consistently hit three-pointers, finishing 6 of 25 (24%), ultimately overshadowed an otherwise resilient performance and resulted in the loss. Against an elite opponent, those missed opportunities proved decisive.
Lendeborg’s 21 points would lead all scorers in the game. Johnson Jr. added 13 points, while Mara contributed 10 despite limited minutes due to fouls. Elliott Cadeau endured an off shooting night, finishing with eight points on 1-of-8 from the field. Duke was paced by Boozer’s 18 point, 10 rebound double-double performance.
Next up, Michigan (25-2) will look to regroup and return to Big Ten play for a matchup at home against Minnesota (13-14) on Tuesday night. Duke (25-2) will stay on the road and play at Notre Dame (12-15), also on Tuesday.
Final score: Michigan 63 – Duke 68
