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The Michigan Wolverines basketball squad won its opening game this past Saturday 86-66 against North Florida at the Crisler Center. With a couple days of rest, the Wolverines returned home sitting at 1-0 to take on the also 1-0 Central Michigan Chippewas.
It was a close one throughout, but the Wolverines managed to squeak by the Chippewas 72-65. Senior guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman led the team in scoring with 17 points. Mo Wagner ended his night with a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds).
It took the Wolverines a late first-half surge to take a one-point lead into halftime, 32-31. But they came out swinging, specifically Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, to begin the second half. After an easy layup a minute and a half into the half, he then made a three-pointer on a nice jump pass from Duncan Robinson. MAAR scored the first five points of the half to continue Michigan’s big run dating back from the first half.
Michigan on a 17-3 run right now. Leading 37-31 with 17:45 to play on the game.
— Maize n Brew (@MaizenBrew) November 14, 2017
But the Chippewas weren’t going down without a fight. Robinson fouled CMU’s Josh Kozinski on a three-point shot attempt, which led to three made free throws. After a Kevin McKay jumper, Kozinski then made a three-point shot to make it a 45-44 CMU lead with 12:45 to play.
After traded made jump shots, transfer guard Jaaron Simmons made his first three-pointer of the night to give Michigan the two-point lead. Transfer forward Charles Matthews then followed that with a triple of his own. Michigan was up 54-49 and not letting up on the gas pedal.
CMU went without a made field goal for nearly seven minutes — from 10:07 to 3:32. The reason the Chippewas finally got that made field goal? A goaltending call.
After that, fans got quite the show from Matthews and Wagner, each getting some alley-oop dunks.
CMU battled, but @umichbball had too much sauce in the end.
— Michigan On BTN (@MichiganOnBTN) November 14, 2017
This late alley-oop by @moritz_weasley helped seal the W: pic.twitter.com/BNpfq0N9NP
Other notable stats:
Duncan Robinson: 10 points (3-10 FG, 2-8 from 3)
Charles Matthews: 13 points (6-12 FG)
Zavier Simpson: 13 points (5-7 FG, 2-3 from 3), 3 assists, 2 steals
The Wolverines play next on Thursday at home as they host the Southern Mississippi Gold Eagles.