By SAM LANCE
The top spot in the Big 10 now belongs to No. 20 Michigan after its 75-73 win over No. 7 Purdue at the Crisler Center on Tuesday night. The Wolverines used a 12-2 run from the 3:45-mark until there was 39 seconds left to secure the victory.
Junior guard Braden Smith made Michigan fans sweat in the closing seconds. He hit two 3-pointers to bring the Boilermakers within two points, and after junior big man Danny Wolf missed two free throws, he was given a final look at the basket but missed the shot.
Wolf led the way for the Wolverines with 15 points, nine rebounds and two assists, all which led the team. He was followed by junior guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (14 points), senior center Vladislav Goldin (12 points) and junior guard Tre Donaldson (12 points).
Michigan led for just 3:14 of game clock and trailed by as much as 10 points in the second half.
“We stayed the course,” head coach Dusty May said on Peacock postgame. “I thought we adjusted to how the game was being played. We did a much better job in the second half taking care of it and our guys made big plays.”
For Purdue, Smith and junior big man Trey Kaufman-Renn combined for 46 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, but it just wasn’t enough to pull out a tough road win.
Michigan (19-5, 11-2 Big 10) only won eight games last season. It’s been a complete turnaround with May at the helm in his first season. The Wolverines are now in position to win its first Big 10 regular season title since 2021.
“We have to have a great week of preparation,” May said. “It doesn’t get any easier. We’re in Columbus on Sunday.”
Up next for Purdue (19-6, 11-3 Big 10) will be a home matchup against No. 17 Wisconsin on Saturday.
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