Caleb Houstan drilled a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:38 remaining and scored 18 points to lead three players in double figures and help Michigan defeat visiting Northwestern 72-70 on Wednesday night in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The Wolverines (10-7, 4-3 Big Ten) stretched their winning streak to three after rallying from a seven-point deficit with 5:09 left. The Wildcats (9-9, 2-7) lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Houstan’s trey put Michigan ahead 68-65. The Wolverines scored their next four points from the free-throw line, but a pair of misses with eight seconds left gave the Wildcats a chance. Boo Buie split a pair of free throws, and after Northwestern corralled the offensive rebound, a potential game-winning 3-pointer from Julian Roper II at the buzzer was off the mark.
DeVante’ Jones (15 points) and Eli Brooks (12) also finished in double figures for Michigan.
Pete Nance sparked Northwestern with 14 points and six rebounds. Buie and Ryan Young added 13 points apiece, while Robbie Beran chipped in 10.
Michigan shot 56.1 percent from the floor compared to 48.9 percent for Northwestern. The Wolverines finished 18-for-26 from the line, while the Wildcats were 16-of-26.
Brooks scored nine of 12 Michigan points over a 1:14 span early in the second half to boost the Wolverines to an 11-point lead, bookending the spurt with separate 3-pointers.
Northwestern responded with a 14-3 run to tie the game at 51-all with 10:06 to play. The Wildcats capitalized on five Wolverines turnovers during that span while heating up from beyond the arc.
Ryan Greer swished his second trey of the second half to put Northwestern ahead 56-55 with 7:57 remaining.
Houstan scored 12 points in the first half to spark Michigan to a 34-31 lead at the break. The Wolverines shot 54.5 percent in the first half and led by as many as six, but the Wildcats stuck around.
Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson had nine points and five rebounds before fouling out with 2:29 to go. Moussa Diabate fouled out 38 seconds later with eight points and seven boards.
Jones had six assists.
Michigan improved to 117-59 against Northwestern all-time, including a 68-20 mark in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines have defeated the Wildcats in 10 straight meetings at Crisler Center.
–Field Level Media
