Wolverines overpower Aggies to advance
LOS ANGELES – Michigan took all the drama out of this NCAA Tournament victory, burying Texas A&M under a barrage of three-point shots.
After reaching the round of 16 with an improbable buzzer-beater, the Wolverines shot 62% from the floor and routed the Aggies, 99-72, in the West Region semifinals on Thursday night to advance to the Elite Eight for the third time in six years.
Next up, the Wolverines will face either No. 4 Gonzaga or No. 9 Florida State who met in the second regional semifinal at Staples Center.
The Wolverines (31-7) dominated from start to finish, hitting 14 threepointers – 10 in the first half when they led by 29 points – and extending their winning streak to 12 games.
“Felt like we ran into a buzz saw,” Aggies coach Billy Kennedy said. “It seemed like everything they shot went in.”
Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman scored 24 points, Moe Wagner added 21 points and Charles Matthews had 18 points as third-seeded Michigan had five players in double figures.
“My shot went in early and it gives you the confidence to take the next one,” Abdur-Rahkman said. “I think everyone had that confidence today.”
Abdur-Rahkman made four threepointers and both of his free throws, and had five rebounds and seven assists.
“This senior right here played his tail off in every single way,” Michigan coach John Beilein said.
The Wolverines were good in the first half and even better in the second. The rout was on by halftime with Michigan leading, 52-28, after shooting 57% from the floor. In the second half, the Wolverines improved to 68% from the floor.
“It was kind of hard to see because I was just wondering when they were going to miss,” Aggies guard Admon Gilder said.
Michigan won its second-round game to reach the Sweet 16 on freshman Jordan Poole’s long three at the buzzer against Houston.
The Aggies (22-13) never made a run, going long stretches without a basket in the first half, while Michigan was scoring on nearly every trip down the floor.
Tyler Davis led the seventh-seeded Aggies with 24 points.
Having beaten defending national champion North Carolina by 21 points to get to Los Angeles, Texas A&M’s stay was short.
“That’s the nature of this game, the nature of this tournament,” Kennedy said. “You can be high one minute and low the next.”
Texas A&M — Hogg 3-9 0-0 7, Williams 6-8 0-1 12, T.Davis 11-17 2-3 24, Starks 2-11 0-0 5, Gilder 5-11 0-0 10, Jasey 0-0 0-0 0, TrochaMorelos 2-5 0-0 5, Collins 0-1 0-0 0, Chandler 2-3 3-6 7, French 0-0 0-0 0, Flagg 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 32-67 5-10 72. Michigan — Wagner 8-12 2-2 21, Livers 1-4 0-0 2, Simpson 5-8 0-0 11, Abdur-Rahkman 9-16 2-2 24, Matthews 8-11 1-2 18, A.Davis 1-1 0-0 2, Baird 1-1 0-0 3, Teske 0-0 0-0 0, Brooks 0-0 0-0 0, Poole 1-1 2-2 5, Simmons 0-0 0-0 0, Watson 1-4 0-0 3, Robinson 4-5 0-0 10. Totals 39-63 7-8 99. Texas A&M 28 44 — 72 Michigan 52 47 — 99 Three-point goals — Texas A&M 3-15 (Trocha-Morelos 1-2, Starks 1-4, Hogg 1-5, Flagg 0-1, Collins 0-1, Gilder 0-2); Michigan 14-24 (Abdur-Rahkman 4-7, Wagner 3-3, Robinson 2-3, Poole 1-1, Baird 1-1, Simpson 1-2, Watson 1-3, Matthews 1-3, Livers 0-1). Rebounds — Texas A&M 30 (T.Davis 8); Michigan 27 (Simpson 5, Abdur-Rahkman 5, Matthews 5). Assists — Texas A&M 13 (Hogg 5); Michigan 21 (AbdurRahkman 7). Total fouls — Texas A&M 12; Michigan 15. A — NA.