Nimari Burnett hit a 3-pointer at the final buzzer to give No. 15 Michigan an 84-82 Big Ten Conference win over Rutgers at Ann Arbor, Mich., on Thursday night after trailing by as many as 12 points in the second half.
Burnett scored from the right wing off a Danny Wolf pass to allow Michigan (22-6, 14-3 Big Ten) to pull even with Michigan State atop the conference standings.
After trailing 74-62 with just over 11 minutes to play, the Wolverines went on a 10-0 run to cut Rutgers’ advantage to two with 5:54 remaining. Wolf started that run with a layup and also finished it off with a layup.
Will Tschetter’s layup with 4:33 left tied the score at 76. After the teams traded baskets, Wolf gave Michigan a one-point lead by splitting free throws.
Ace Bailey made a turnaround shot to give Rutgers (14-15, 7-11) a one-point lead, but Tre Donaldson’s layup with 33 seconds left pushed the Wolverines back in front, 81-80.
Donaldson then fouled Acuff, who made two free throws with 12 seconds remaining. Michigan, though, had one last shot, and Burnett made it count to lift the Wolverines to their eighth win in nine games.
Vladislav Goldin led the Wolverines with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Burnett had 20 points and Tschetter finished with 16. Wolf added 10 points and eight rebounds.
Dylan Harper and Lathan Sommerville had 17 points apiece for Rutgers. Tyson Acuff supplied 16 points, and Bailey added 13 with nine rebounds.
Harper, Acuff and Bailey had 11 points apiece as Rutgers led 57-49 at halftime. The Scarlet Knights shot a whopping 68 percent from the field and made eight 3-pointers. Goldin kept the Wolverines within striking distance with 17 points.
Michigan led by as many as seven points in the early going. However, a 23-9 run gave the Scarlet Knights a 13-point lead with 1:13 remaining in the half. Acuff knocked down three 3-pointers during that stretch.
After the Wolverines pulled within eight by halftime, Dylan Grant made a dunk for Rutgers to open up the second half, then Sommerville’s basket with 16:53 remaining extended the visitors’ advantage to 65-54.
Michigan cut Rutgers’ lead to 65-60 on a Burnett jumper. Acuff answered with a 3-pointer, and Sommerville scored the next four points to put the Scarlet Knights on top 72-60.
–Field Level Media
