Michigan takes momentum into tournament

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — It was a first half so pristine, so darn near perfect, that Michigan didn’t know what was more impressive — its uncanny shooting ability or unrelenting defense.

Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman scored 22 of his career-high 28 points before halftime, and the 17th-ranked Wolverines easily defeated Maryland 85-61 Saturday for their fifth straight victory.

Using runs of 9-0 and 16-3, the Wolverines built a 54-24 halftime lead and cruised to the finish. Michigan went 17 for 28 from the field, including 11 for 19 from three-point range, in its best half this season.

“If you add offense and defense, it probably was,” coach John Beilein said. “At halftime, I talked to them about holding Maryland to 24 points. That’s what was great about that half.”

The Wolverines (24-7, 13-5 Big Ten) have clinched the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament, but can earn a No. 4 seed and a double bye if Nebraska loses to Penn State on Sunday.

Abdur-Rahkman made six three-pointers in the first half and also led the Wolverines with five rebounds and four assists.

As Abdur-Rahkman kept drilling threes, Beilein pulled him aside and said, “You’re doing a great D-Walt impersonation at just the right time.”

The reference was to former Michigan guard Derrick Walton Jr., the team’s leading scorer last season and a second-team All-Big Ten member.

Although AbdurRahkman cooled off in the second half, he nevertheless surpassed his previous career best of 26 points.

Anthony Cowan Jr. scored 17 for Maryland, which suffered its most lopsided home loss since a 104-72 defeat against Duke on Jan 3, 1998.

“We were terrible. It starts with me,” coach Mark Turgeon said. “We made some really bad decisions out there and it’s frustrating. ... Whatever button I tried to push and no matter what I tried to say, it wasn’t going to get corrected.”

The Terrapins (19-12, 8-10) were 15-2 at home and lost to Michigan on the road by just one point on Jan. 15, which made the blowout that much more surprising.

After Michigan rattled off 10 straight points to take a 20-12 lead, Kevin Huerter hit a three for Maryland before Jaaron Simmons launched the pivotal 16-3 run with a long-range jumper. Jordan Poole chipped in with a pair of threes and another by Abdur-Rahkman made it 34-18.