Hoosiers dismantled in 90-60 loss to Michigan
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- When Michigan raced out to an early 14-point lead against Indiana, the game was far from over.
"We jumped on them last year, just like that, and they went on their crazy run," senior Zak Irvin said. "We just wanted to keep our foot on the gas."
This time the Wolverines jumped ahead and stayed ahead, routing Indiana 90-60 on Thursday night for their most lopsided victory over the Hoosiers since 1998. Derrick Walton scored 21 points for Michigan, which went 11 of 20 from 3-point range and was never seriously threatened after its strong start.
Michigan led by double digits early in last season's game against Indiana, but the Hoosiers scored the final 25 points of the first half to turn the game around completely. On Thursday, the Wolverines were relentless. They raced out to an 18-4 lead and were ahead 26-9 after a 3-pointer by Duncan Robinson. At that point, Indiana coach Tom Crean called his second timeout of the half, but it was no use. A 3-pointer by backup big man Mark Donnal put Michigan up 32-13.
"At no point in time in the game was our aggressiveness defensively ever enough to stem the tide," Crean said.
Moe Wagner scored 14 points for the Wolverines (14-7, 4-4 Big Ten) and Robinson added 13. Irvin had 12 points.
It was the largest margin of victory for Michigan in the series since a 112-64 win in 1998.
Indiana (14-7, 4-4) nearly matched Michigan's torrid shooting in the first half, but the Hoosiers trailed 50-35 at halftime because they couldn't take care of the ball. The second half wasn't much different. Indiana finished the game with 16 turnovers to Michigan's six.
Robert Johnson led Indiana with 14 points. It was the most lopsided loss for the Hoosiers since they were beaten 78-46 by Wisconsin on Feb. 25, 2010.
BIG PICTURE
Indiana: The list of teams that could have beaten Michigan on a night like this is probably a short one, but the Hoosiers actually shot well enough to make a game of it -- 55 percent from the field and 7 of 13 from 3-point range. Indiana's turnover problems are holding back what is otherwise an impressive offensive team.
Michigan: Everything came together for the Wolverines, who still have work to do to secure an NCAA Tournament spot but served notice Thursday of how good they can be when they're at their best. Michigan shot 63 percent from the field and even outperformed Indiana on the boards.
DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS?
Michigan dropped three of its first four Big Ten games this season against what looked like the more forgiving part of the conference schedule. The Wolverines have battled back nicely since then.
"We're capable of a lot of things. A lot of teams are," Michigan coach John Beilein said. "Just watch the scores. There's always these spans right now that people try and figure out. The world corrects itself at some point, and basketball does too. We've just got to stay persistent."
Now it's Indiana that has questions to answer. The Hoosiers beat Kansas and North Carolina earlier in the season, but they recently lost forward OG Anunoby for the season with an injured right knee.
The Hoosiers had won four of five entering Thursday's game, but they couldn't even keep it close against Michigan.
"There's no excuses that we come out like that at the start of a game," Indiana center Thomas Bryant said.
UP NEXT
Indiana: The Hoosiers play at Northwestern on Sunday night.
Michigan: The Wolverines should be brimming with confidence when they take on rival Michigan State in East Lansing on Sunday.