5 takeaways from Michigan basketball vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

Michigan basketball had lost two in a row at home to Ohio State, could the Wolverines break the streak and take down their primary rival? The Buckeyes haven’t exactly been doing well of late. After starting 10-3, OSU has lost eight of the last nine.

The Wolverines got out to a hot start, going up 12-6 before the Buckeyes cut into the lead getting it to just a one-point deficit. But it didn’t last. The maize and blue’s defense clamped down and the offense started going again, and Michigan extended the lead to 10.

But the Buckeyes wouldn’t go away, going from down 11 to down just 3 late in the first half. Ultimately, Michigan took a five-point lead into the half.

Michigan led off the second half with two from Hunter Dickinson to get the lead back to seven, but the Wolverines couldn’t capitalize on ensuing possessions and OSU cut the deficit to three. But the maize and blue’s defense stood strong, keeping the Buckeyes from scoring while going on a 6-0 run, to push the lead to nine.

The maize and blue pushed the lead to 11 — tying the highest margin in the game — before nursing a nine-point advantage for several minutes. Michigan pushed the lead to 13 after two made free throws by Terrance Williams coming out of the under-four media timeout. That was enough to put the game out of reach as the Wolverines won 77-69.

Michigan went wire-to-wire with the lead and were led by Hunter Dickinson with 26 points and 10 rebounds — a double-double. Here are our five takeaways.

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Michigan had started to assert itself in the early going, but after starting with back-to-back 3s, the shots weren’t falling with as much ease as they were at the outset. But, thanks to the defense, the Wolverines were able to weather the storm and keep the Buckeyes at arm’s length.

The Wolverines managed to keep just enough distance — as created in the early game — all game. Ohio State kept falling behind by about 11 before cutting the game to three, which it did multiple times, before the maize and blue would pull away again. No matter how well the Buckeyes would proverbially rebound, Michigan would answer.

It was a great start to the game for the maize and blue, followed by a great game overall.

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As mentioned, even when the offense went through lulls, the defense showed up, keeping the Wolverines in the lead. For a long stretch, the Buckeyes were only getting on the board…