Michigan rocks Eastern Michigan, continues to roll in nonconference

Tim Hardaway Jr. had 17 points and a career-high seven assists to help No. 2 Michigan rout Eastern Michigan 93-54 Thursday night.

The Wolverines (12-0) are off to their best start since winning the first 16 games of the 1985-86 season.

The Eagles (6-4) have lost two straight since beating Purdue.

Michigan trailed 6-2 in the opening minutes, then took control with a 20-0 run. The Wolverines led 40-24 at halftime and enjoyed an even bigger cushion for much of the second half.

Eastern Michigan’s Daylen Harrison scored 13 points and Glen Bryant had 10.

Michigan’s Trey Burke had 11 points and eight assists. Nik Stauskas made three 3-pointers in the first half and finished with 16 points, while fellow freshmen Mitch McGary had 10 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double and Glenn Robinson III added 13 points for the Wolverines.

Burke, the reigning Big Ten player of the week, took the ball from Jalen Ross on the first possession of the game and made a layup.

Ross responded with a 3-pointer and Bryant made another shot from beyond the arc to give the Eagles a four-point lead that proved to be their highlight of the night. Michigan used a balanced offense and aggressive defense to build a 22-6 lead.

The Wolverines then seemed to show some mercy - briefly playing five freshmen, including two that seldom play - and didn’t add much to their lead in the first half.

The Wolverines, who have reached their highest ranking since the 1992-93 season, led by 30plus points with 14 minutes left and coasted to another lopsided victory.

Michigan has won its next five games by an average of 19-plus points. Top 25 Men No. 1 Duke 76, Elon 54: Mason Plumlee had 21 points and 15 rebounds, and the Blue Devils (110) beat the Phoenix (6-5) for their 100th straight nonconference win at Cameron Indoor Sta- dium. Ryan Kelly added 14 points, while freshman Rasheed Sulaimon scored 13. Others Central Michigan 92, Texas State 80: Joel Wright led the visiting Bobcats (4-8) with 20 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough. Kyle Randall scored 18 points to lead the Chippewas (6-4).

Arkansas 79, Robert Morris 74: BJ Young led four starters in doubledigits with a game-high 23 points as the host Razorbacks (6-4) held off the Colonials (8-5). Hunter Mickelson added 14 of his career-high 16 points after halftime.

Top prospect picks Duke: Prized prospect Jabari Parker of Chicago’s Simeon Career Academy, one of the most highly touted recruits in years, announced Thursday that he is headed to Duke.

Parker can’t sign his letter of intent until April 17. Michigan State and Florida, also made his top three, but he chose to play for Mike Krzyzewski for at least a year before making what many believe will ultimately be a jump to the NBA.