Michigan struggled early with Central Michigan’s zone defense, falling behind by as many as eight points on a few occasions. The Wolverines didn’t grab a lead until 1:14 remained in the first half, when senior Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman nailed a triple that gave U-M a 32-31 lead in an eventual 72-65 win.
Each time U-M battled back, the Chippewas seemed to counter with a big bucket. Shawn Roundtree hit a long one from the corner to make it 19-12, and Michigan ffith-year senior Duncan Robinson missed his first four triples against a tough 3-2 zone.
The Wolverines shot only 5-for-15 from long range in the first half, 10-for-26 overall, and became hesitant to shoot.
They got a big spark from backup center Jon Teske. The 7-1 sophomore made four free throws, blocked two shots and altered a few more in his eight minutes on the floor, most of them after junior Mo Wagner picked up his second foul.
Sophomore point guard Zavier Simpson started a Michigan run with a triple from the top that cut a 22-14 deficit to five. U-M cut it to two on three Wagner free throws, but the lead was eight again before Robinson’s triple and a Simpson drive and finish cut it to two again. Abdur-Rahkman’s three finally put the Wolverines on top.
Abdur-Rahkman and Wagner both scored eight to lead U-M in the first half, while Simpson added seven.
SECOND HALF
Abddur-Rahkman and Matthews both missed triples to start the second half before Abdur–Rahkman finished in transition to put the Wolverines up three. Abdur-Rakman hit a transition three at 17:45 to make it 37-31, forcing a CMU timeout.
Roundtree hit another triple with a hand in his face, his third of the game, but Robinson answered to push it back to 40-34 at the 17-minute mark.
Simpson’s lefty drive and one-hand finish pushed the lead to eight. He was aggressive in the second half and finished with 13 points and three assists.
The Chips answered with a triple and three free throws to cut it back to 42-40 before Abdur-Rahkman’s floater pushed it back to four. CMU grabbed the lead back after Wagner missed a wide open and Josh Kozinksi answered with a transition three.
The two teams continued to trade buckets. Grad transfer Jaaron Simmons hit a big three at 11:00 to put Michigan back up 49-47. Simmons then set up Matthews for a three from the corner to push the lead to five.
It was 56-51 after a Simmons follow at 7:40.
Matthews’ steal and dunk made it 62-53 at 3:57 and gave U-M some breathing room, but CMU wouldn’t go away. Roundtree’s triple from the top cut it to 64-58 at 2:50, but Simpson answered with his own to push it back to nine. Matthews added an exclamation point with an alley-oop finish that made it 69-60, but Central still didn’t quit. Luke Meyer hit a triple to cut it to six with 30 seconds still remaining .
The Wolverines closed it out at the line to improve to 2-0.
Abdur-Rahkman finished with 17 points, Mattehws 13 and Robinson 10 for the Wolverines.
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