WOLVERINES FALL TO INDIANA IN OT
BLOOMINGTON, IND. >> Trayce Jackson-davis had 27 points, nine rebounds and six assists in his final home game, and No. 15 Indiana forced a steal on Michigan’s final possession to seal a 75-73 overtime victory Sunday.
The Hoosiers (21-10, 12-8) clinched a double bye into Friday’s Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals by rebounding from their most lopsided home loss since 2017.
Hunter Dickinson had 24 points and 14 rebounds. Kobe Bufkin added 19 points and six rebounds, but the Wolverines wound up getting swept in the season series. It was the second straight overtime loss for Michigan (17-14, 11-9), which will open conference tourney play Thursday.
And, fittingly in the Hoosiers’ final home game this season, it was three seniors — Jackson-davis, Race Thompson and Miller Kopp — who proved the difference by scoring all six Indiana points in overtime.
Indiana charged back from a 12-point deficit with 12 1/2 minutes to play and finally tied the score at 69 thanks to Jalen Hood-schifino’s 3-pointer with a minute left.
Both teams had chances to win it in the waning seconds of regulation, but after Indiana grabbed Dickinson’s errant 3 and called timeout with 0.7 seconds left, Jackson-davis’ half-court heave at the buzzer bounced out.
Thompson broke the tie on his first shot in overtime, Jackson-Davis followed that with two free throws and Kopp knocked down a long jumper with his foot on the 3-point line to make it 75-69 with 2:22 left.
Indiana didn’t score again but all the Wolverines could muster was one 3 from Dickinson and one free throw from Bufkin with 6 seconds to play.
The Wolverines seemed to be closing the regular season strong. Then came this week. After winning six of their previous eight, they lost Thursday in double overtime at Illinois and now in overtime at Indiana. They made need another win or two to solidify an NCAA Tournament bid.
Indiana coach Mike Woodson called Tuesday’s 90-68 home loss to Iowa, Indiana’s most lopsided in years, the worst day of the season for his team. The Hoosiers bounced back Sunday. When they rebound and play defense the way they did down the stretch, they’re tough to beat. More teams may
find out over the next two weeks.
Yes, the most recent victory should help Indiana recover some momentum in the poll after an embarrassing loss to Iowa. But it won’t be completely forgotten. Expect the Hoosiers to slip a few spots Monday.
While Jackson-davis has been breaking records all season, Kopp joined the record-breaking club at tipoff. The former Northwestern guard played in his 99th Big Ten game, breaking a tie with Jordan Bohannon of Iowa and Trent Frazier of Illinois for the most in league history. He also tied Butler guard Eric Hunter Jr. for the most conference appearances in Division I history. Hunter played previously at Purdue before transferring to Butler this season.
In U-M’S 10-game stretch to the regular season finale, Dickinson has been a monster for the Wolverines. He has 10 straight double-figure games with four 20-plus and one 30-plus (his third of the season).
With seven games of 10plus rebounds -- including a career-best 16 at Illinois -- he has more than half (seven) of his team-best 13 double-doubles, including his last four straight games.
Additionally, in his last seven games, Dickinson is 9-for-17 (52.8 percent) from long range with his gamesealing triple against Michigan State (Feb. 18), as well as the thrilling end-of-regulation triple to send U-M’S game with Wisconsin into overtime (Feb. 26).
Dickinson (1,553 points) reached yet another U-M milestone this season, becoming the 22nd Wolverine to reach 1,500 career points.
With his 31 points at Illinois (March 2), he passed U-M coach Juwan Howard (1,526 points) for the 20th spot all-time. Dickinson now has 760 boards, which also passes Howard (745) and Robert Traylor, putting Dickinson 11th all-time.
Michigan will wait to find out Thursday’s matchup in Chicago.
Indiana wll find out their seeding and opponent on Friday later.