No. 20 Michigan basketball takes top spot in Big Ten with comeback win over No. 7 Purdue

ANN ARBOR — No. 20 Michigan men’s basketball (19-5, 11-2 Big Ten) faced two double-digit deficits Tuesday night, but it wasn’t enough to keep it down. The Wolverines finished the game on a 14-8 run, and two Danny Wolf free throws sealed the 75-73 win over No. 7 Purdue. The maize and blue now sit alone at the top of the Big Ten conference.

Michigan basketball overcomes double-digit deficits against Purdue

Purdue guard Braden Smith, who had his way with Michigan in the first matchup on Jan. 24, seemed to be on track for another big night with 14 points in the first 11 minutes. However, he wouldn’t score again until there was less than five minutes left in the game.

“You have to pick your poison (with Smith),” May said after his first top-ten win. “I thought his ability to hit the roll man on the pick-and-roll (and) get his shooters shots was an A-plus. He’s incredible. His stamina – I kept looking at him thinking, this guy’s got to be getting somewhat tired, or somewhat fatigued, and he didn’t.”

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The Wolverines had trouble sustaining offense in the first half, but they went into the lockers on a 9-0 run with the score at 37-35.

As the game wore on, Michigan’s physicality seemed to effect Purdue more than it was ready for. In fact, both starting forwards fouled out in the last few minutes as they were trying to deal with Michigan center Vlad Goldin.

“I’m not taking any credit for the way Vlad played. He performed at an extremely high level down the stretch (with) those rebounds (and) his level of determination,” May said. “Vlad and I, we go way, way back. There’s times when Vlad doesn’t like me and I don’t like him, but the love is real, and we both are fighting for the same thing, and that’s to compete for championships.”

Goldin finished with 12 points, five rebounds, three steals and one block. Wolf led the Wolverines with 15 points, and Roddy Gayle Jr. contributed 14. Guard Rubin Jones was in the starting lineup once again, and although he doesn’t stick out in the box score, May said he was all over the floor.

“I thought he was everywhere,” May said. “His quickness, his anticipation. I don’t wanna say I feel bad for Michigan fans, but we haven’t seen the real Rubin Jones. He is an irritant, he is a pest on defense, and he’s a really good shooter.”

Jones gave Michigan a six-point lead on a put-back dunk with under a minute left in the game.

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Michigan’s next test comes in the form of rival Ohio State on the road this Sunday at 1 p.m. on CBS.

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