Michigan put forward its best defensive effort of the year, avenging a 16-point loss to Illinois with a 66-57 victory of its own at Crisler Center.

The Wolverines controlled this one throughout the second half, taking a 10-point halftime lead and extending it as high as 21. Redshirt sophomore forward D.J. Wilson paced the onslaught, scoring 19 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out five assists.

Senior forward Zak Irvin scored 15 for the Wolverines, while senior guard Derrick Walton Jr. recorded a double-double, with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

FIRST HALF

Michigan came out struggling to make shots, but defended well enough to hit the first media timeout (15:53) with the game knotted at 6-6. Wilson’s three-pointer put the Wolverines on top, 12-10, with just over 13 minutes to play in the half.

Wilson followed with a put-back jam, and Duncan Robinson nailed a three-pointer with 11:27 remaining, making it an 8-0 Michigan run to stretch the U-M lead to 17-10. Illinois called timeout, trying to slow Michigan’s momentum.

The Wolverines continued flashing some of their strongest defense of the year, but cooled again on the shots, maintaining a 17-12 advantage into a timeout with 7:35 left in the half. Wilson eventually snapped that scoreless streak, making a put-back with 7:17 remaining.

Moments later, Wilson crashed the boards for another follow-up bucket, getting fouled in the process. He made the free throw, putting the Wolverines in control, 22-13, at the six-minute mark.

The Illini went on a 5-0 run of their own to draw within four, and missed free throws by the Wolverines exacerbated the streak. Irvin finally broke the charity-line struggles with a pair of free throws at 3:34, and Wagner connected on a three to make it 27-18.

Irvin’s three with under a minute remaining put the Wolverines up by 10, 32-22, and U-M went to the half on top, 34-24. Michigan hit only 4 of 9 free throws in the half, but Wilson’s 12 points, four rebounds and four assists had it in control.

SECOND HALF

Walton’s deep three early got Michigan going in the second half, extending the lead to 12, 38-26, two minutes in. Irvin followed with a steal and slam, and U-M recorded steals on Illinois’ next two possessions as well.

Walton then drove to the hole and got fouled, making the free throw to push the lead to 43-26. Wilson powered home an offensive rebound to make the margin 19 with just over 15 minutes remaining.

Illinois whittled Michigan’s advantage down to 15 over the next five minutes. Buckets by Wagner and Wilson restored the edge to 19, U-M keeping that lead into a timeout with 7:20 left.

The Wolverines continued to defend, Illinois hitting the 4:25 mark with only 39 points on the board. U-M took the drama out of it, never letting the Illini creep closer than nine down the stretch, and that helped by a banked-in three-pointer in the final minute.