No. 3 Wolverines shake off the rust

Isaiah Livers scored 20 points, Hunter Dickinson had 11 points and 15 rebounds and third-ranked Michigan rallied from a 14point deficit to beat No. 21 Wisconsin 67-59 on Sunday.

The Wolverines (14-1, 9-1 Big Ten) hadn’t played since a 70-53 victory at Purdue on Jan. 22. Michigan announced the next day it was pausing all athletic activities after several people linked to the athletic department tested positive for a COVID-19 variant that transmits at a higher rate.

“I was outside, I was doing jump-rope, I was doing everything necessary to stay in shape,” Livers said. “A lot of other guys were too. We all had a program. We all stayed true to it, and obviously [you saw] the outcome. We’re getting back in our rhythm, back in that Michigan basketball rhythm.”

That was apparent down the stretch.

After trailing most of the way, Michigan scored the game’s final eight points. The Badgers (15-7, 9-6 Big Ten) collected just six points and one basket over the final 7:45.

Dickinson made numerous big plays with the game on the line.

Michigan trailed 57-56 when Dickinson got the offensive rebound off a missed three-pointer from Eli Brooks and found Livers, who sank a three-pointer with 2:48 left. D’Mitrik Trice tied the score by hitting two free throws, but Michigan pulled ahead for good on Dickinson’s putback.

at Drake 51, No. 22 Loyola Chicago 50 (OT): Tremell Murphy scored 17 points, including the go-ahead basket in overtime, and the Bulldogs rallied past the Ramblers.

Murphy’s layup with 2:50 to go put Drake ahead for good, 49-48, in the defensive struggle between Missouri Valley Conference powers. Loyola had two shots blocked in the final 15 seconds before Murphy made the clinching steal and was fouled.

Drake (20-2, 11-2 MVC) won despite shooting 33.3%. Loyola (18-4, 13-2 MVC) shot 35.1%.

at Arizona State 75, Oregon State 73: Remy Martin scored 23 points, and his three-pointer with 37 seconds left broke a tie as the Sun Devils (7-9, 4-6 Pac-12) outlasted the Beavers (10-10, 6-8 Pac-12) in a wild finish.

Martin’s three was his only make in six tries from behind the arc and he finished five for 18 from the field. But he sank 12 of 16 free throws.