Whatever the postseason holds, Michigan at least can relish dinging rival Ohio State’s prospects.
Spike Albrecht scored 16 points to help the Wolverines upset the 24th-ranked Buckeyes 64-57 on Sunday.
The Buckeyes (19-8, 8-6 Big Ten) trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half before closing to 49-46 with seven minutes left with a 14-0 run. Zak Irvin answered with a 3-pointer a minute later and Ohio State never got closer than four points the rest of the day.
”This felt like a rivalry game,” said Albrecht, who added five assists. ”The emotion was there.”
D’Angelo Russell had 16 points and Keita Bates-Diop scored 12 as the Buckeyes lost their second straight.
Irvin added 15, seven rebounds and four assists for the injury-depleted Wolverines (14-13, 7-8), who defeated a Top 25 team for the first time this season.
Albrect and Irvin each played 38 minutes and fellow starters Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Aubrey Dawkins were on the floor for 37 and 34, respectively.
Ohio State helped by making just 10 first-half field goals (48 percent).
The Buckeyes won 71-52 on Jan. 13 after forcing 13 turnovers and holding the Wolverines to 34 percent shooting, but Michigan was much sharper against the press Sunday. They turned the ball over only nine times and none of the miscues shifted momentum.
”Not turning the ball over was huge for us,” said coach John Beilein, whose team also had 13 assists. ”(Thirteen assists) means you made two people guard you and you got somebody open.”
Ohio State coach Thad Matta said he was shocked by his team’s early performance, especially after having eight days to prepare.
”It seemed like we were on our heels too much defensively,” he said. ”I was disappointed we didn’t fight a little harder.”
The Buckeyes are 1-8 this season when trailing at halftime. They were better on the offensive glass in the second half and reduced their giveaways. Meanwhile, Michigan stuck to what worked in the first 20 minutes.
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