Kobe Bufkin scored 23 points and Joey Baker added 21 as the third-seeded Michigan Wolverines defeated the Toledo Rockets 90-80 in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament on Tuesday night in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Hunter Dickinson contributed 19 points and a game-high nine rebounds, as well. Dug McDaniel was the other Wolverine to score in double figures, finishing with 16 points and a team-high eight assists.
Toledo (27-8), which lost in the Mid-American Conference tournament after winning the regular-season title, was led by Setric Millner Jr.’s 19 points. JT Shumate scored 18, Ra’Heim Moss added 15 and RayJ Dennis scored 13 along to go with eight assists.
Both teams started off hot in this one as the Rockets made eight of their first 11 shots and the Wolverines made six of their first nine. Toledo led 42-40 at halftime following a Shumate 3-pointer just before the buzzer sounded.
Michigan (18-15) took over early in the second half, starting on an 11-0 run and leading the rest of the way, outscoring the Rockets 50-38 after intermission.
The Wolverines outpaced the talented offense of Toledo, shooting 58 percent from the floor and 57 percent from beyond the arc; Toledo hit 44 percent of its shots — 33 percent of its 3-point attempts. Michigan also dominated the rebounding battle between these offense-heavy teams 39-29.
Up next for Michigan in the second round is No. 2 seed Vanderbilt, a 71-62 winner over Yale on Tuesday. That game will be played Saturday or Sunday.
–Field Level Media
