Michigan basketball allows 50 first-half points in season finale loss to Michigan State

No. 17 Michigan men’s basketball (22-8, 14-5 Big Ten) fell short to No. 8 Michigan State 79-62 on the road Sunday in East Lansing. It marks three straight losses for the Wolverines to end the regular season, with their last win coming against Rutgers (84-82) off a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Nimari Burnett on Feb. 27.

The Spartans scored 50 first-half points and all but ended the game before halftime.

Michigan basketball ends regular season with road loss to Michigan State

Through the first eight minutes of the game, Michigan had six points and seven turnovers. The Wolverines had two players score more than three points in the first half: Burnett (five) and Vladislav Goldin (14). Goldin led all scorers going into the half, shooting 5-of-6 from the field.

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Michigan State hit seven 3’s before halftime, including three each from Tre Holloman and Jaden Akins. The Spartans had six different players score at least four points, and their depth was an advantage for most of the game. Michigan was down 50-28 and had more turnovers (11) than made field goals (nine) going into the break.

The Wolverines outscored MSU 34-29 after halftime, but they couldn’t sustain the momentum. Michigan cut its deficit to 11 (61-50) with 9:23 left in the game amid a 22-9 run, but it scored just 12 points over the final nine minutes of the game. Danny Wolf found his groove in the second half, as he put up 15 points after only scoring three in the first.

Goldin put up 15 more after halftime to end with a game-high 29. Holloman ended with a team-high 20 points for the Spartans, followed by 18 from Jase Richardson. Michigan lost the rebounding battle 39-30 and got just five points from its bench, compared to 32 for Michigan State.

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The Wolverines have a double-bye locked up for the Big Ten tournament, which begins on Wednesday (March 12). Michigan is set to be the No. 3 seed, and its first game will be on Friday (March 14).

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