Michigan was tested by a solid Furman team early and often Thursday night before pulling out a 68-62 win. The Wolverines battled back from an early 6-2 deficit on a triple from sophomore center Moritz Wagner and a drive and finish from senior Zak Irvin. Irvin to Wagner inside made it 9-6, bu Furman’s Goeff Beans tied it at 9-9 with a long triple.

It would be that kind of game throughout.

Walton’s long triple with the shot clock winding down made it 16-13 at 11:20.

The teams continued to trade baskets. Duncan Robinson gave the Wolveirnes the lead back at 8:40 on his first shot, a triple from the right corner. Irvin made it a three-point game with a short pull-up jumper, and Wagner finished inside to push the lead to five, U-M’s biggest margin.

Furman battled back to tie it at 23 on a broken play resulting in a three for Devin Sibley, but four straight from Irvin – a pair of free throws and a drive and goaltend – made it a four-point lead at 3:51.

Wagner scored Michigan’s last four inside to give the Wolverines a bit of breathing room at the break, 31-25. He finished the half with 13 pionts and four rebounds in 12 minutes, while Irvin added eight point and four assists.

SECOND HALF

Furman scored the first four points of the second half. On the other end, Irvin missed a pair of triples, one wide open, and Wagner missed at the rim after a nice drive.

Another loose ball scramble resulted in a triple for Furman and a 32-31 Paladins lead. They extended it on a Sibley drive and finish, and U-M continued to struggle. The Wolverines missed their first six shots and went into the first TV timeout at 15:57 down 34-31.

Kris Acox’ dunk on an inbound alley-oop made it a five-point game before Irvin ‘s alley-oop to redshirt sophomore D.J Wilson finally gave the Wolverines their first two points of the half, ending the Paladins' run.

Furman went up five before Robinson answered with a stumbling three-point play to cut it back to three at 14: 50.

Walton’s and-one in transition gave the Wolverines the lead back at 13:49, and it was 41-40 when Wagner hit a pair of free throws at 12:46.

The Wolverines finally started to create a little distance with two Irvin free throws and a Robinson steal and finish, but the Wolverines miscommunicated on defense and left Furman’s John Davis alone for a three that brought the lead back to two at 10:10.

Michigan continued to push and got the lead to six on a Wilson three-point play at 8:26. That put U-M in the bonus up 52-46, even though U-M was shooting only 3-for-17 from long range at that point, 0-for-8 in the second half.

Furman, though, wouldn’t go away, scoring the next four from the line to cut it to 52-50. Wagner answerd with a great finish in traffic, and-one, to push it back to five. Four more from Furman driving to the rim made it a one-point game; Walton responded with a runner off the glass at 5:35, and Wilson’s two free throws after being fouled on a putback attempt made it 59-54 at 4:42.

Irvin then took over, hitting a few key, short jump shots, one at 3:37, the other at 2:49. 63-58.

It still wasn't over. Sibley blew by Walton to finish, and Irvin was short on two jumpers at the other end. The Wolverines forced a turnover at 53.4 with some great defense to get the ball back. Walton - who had one assist all game - then hit a clutch triple with 26 seconds remaining and the shot clock winding down to make it 66-60.

More great defense led to an airball, and Walton clinched it at the line with two free throws.

Wagner scored 18 to lead the Wolverines, while Irvin added 16 and seven assists, Walton 13 points and Robinson eight.

U-M is off until Jan. 1, the Big Ten opener at Iowa.