In a highly anticipated matchup on Friday night, Michigan showcased its dominance in the second half, defeating Ohio State 74-62 in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines” ability to control the game in the later stages was pivotal in securing their victory.
The game began competitively, with Ohio State briefly holding a one-point lead midway through the second half. However, the tide turned as Michigan outscored the Buckeyes 27-14 in the final eight minutes. Leading the way for Michigan was Yaxel Lendeborg, who contributed 18 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals in just 31 minutes of play. On the other side, John Mobley Jr. was the standout for Ohio State, finishing with 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including four three-pointers.
Despite struggling from three-point range, managing only five successful attempts out of 23, Michigan shot 51.9 percent overall from the field, outpacing Ohio State, which finished at 40.7 percent.
First Half Analysis
The first half was tightly contested, with Ohio State taking an early 20-16 lead before heading into the under-eight-minute media timeout. Mobley Jr. excelled during this period, scoring 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting while hitting two shots beyond the arc. Despite his efforts, the rest of Ohio State struggled, failing to connect on all six of their three-point attempts.
Although Ohio State attempted six more shots than Michigan, their field goal percentage fell short by 10.6 points. With less than ten minutes remaining in the half, Ohio State led 20-14, but Michigan rallied to take a 33-30 advantage into halftime. The rebounding battle was close, with Michigan edging out Ohio State 18-16, though the Buckeyes led the offensive boards 7-5. Michigan recorded eight turnovers compared to Ohio State“s seven.
Second Half Developments
Coming out of halftime, Ohio State surged with a 10-1 run, establishing a 40-34 lead that forced Michigan coach Dusty May to call a timeout just two and a half minutes into the second half. Responding effectively, Michigan countered with an 11-0 run, reclaiming a 45-40 lead within three minutes. Although Ohio State managed to briefly regain the lead at 48-47, Michigan found its rhythm from long distance, extending its advantage to 13 points with just over four minutes remaining.
The Wolverines maintained their lead to close out the game, resulting in a 12-point win that improved their record to 18-1 overall and 8-1 in the Big Ten. Ohio State fell to 13-6 overall and 5-4 in conference play.
Looking Ahead
Despite the loss, Ohio State demonstrated potential against a strong Michigan team, suggesting they could be competitive in the Big Ten and in play for an NCAA Tournament berth. However, improvement in shooting performance is crucial, as their 8-of-27 showing from three-point range and overall field goal percentage of 40.7 percent will not suffice against elite opponents.
Next, Ohio State will host Penn State on Monday night at 7:00 PM, a crucial matchup for the Buckeyes, who must secure a win against the Nittany Lions, currently struggling at 9-10 overall and winless in Big Ten play.
