No. 20 Michigan beats Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. — Duncan Robinson earned his first start in a month after putting on a 3-point shooting clinic at practice.

He rewarded coach John Beilein’s trust and kept hitting from long distance in the first half against Wisconsin.

Robinson scored 16 points and made all four of his 3s in the first half, Moe Wagner had 20 points and 11 rebounds and No. 20 Michigan rode a hot-shooting start for an 83-72 win on Sunday. The Wolverines (20-7, 9-5) won on the road for the first time since upsetting Michigan State on Jan. 13.

This time, Michigan had to hold on after allowing much of its 22-point halftime lead slip away in the second half.

“Our defense in the

Michigan’s Charles Matthews (left) shoots past Wisconsin defenders Ethan Happ (center) and Nate Reuvers during the first half of Sunday’s game in Madison, Wis.

first half was very good; second half not as good,” Beilein said. “We did not execute down the stretch. It melted a little bit.”

But the Wolverines made more than enough shots and stops in the first half to hold off the Badgers.

The Wolverines started 12 of 16 overall and 7 of 9 from 3-point range. Robinson was 5 of 9 from the field, including 4 of 7 from 3, in his first start since Jan. 9 against Purdue.

Forward Ethan Happ led Wisconsin (11-16, 4-10) with a season-high 29 points, including 18 Andy Manis / AP on 7-of-10 shooting in the second half.

A quiet Kohl Center crowd reawakened after a 12-0 run drew the Badgers within 58-47 with 8:52 left. Aleem Ford’s 3 with 2:37 left to get within eight kept Wisconsin’s flickering hopes alive. But a prototypical fundamentally sound Michigan team kept its composure and Wisconsin ran out of time. Allowing Michigan to shoot 65 percent in the first half proved to be too problematic.