ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In a dramatic finish, Nimari Burnett sank a three-pointer at the buzzer, handing No. 15 Michigan an 84-82 victory over Rutgers on Thursday night. This win propelled the Wolverines into a first-place tie in the Big Ten standings alongside their rivals, Michigan State.
Michigan, boasting a record of 22-6 overall and 14-3 in Big Ten play, mounted a fierce comeback after trailing by 12 points in the second half. On the other side, the Scarlet Knights (14-15, 7-11) thought they had turned the game in their favor when Tyson Acuff sank two crucial free throws with just over 12 seconds remaining after being fouled on a three-point attempt. However, they could not prevent Michigan’s final play from clinching victory.
Initially, Rutgers had surged ahead, leading by 13 points in a high-scoring first half, totaling 106 combined points. They maintained a 74-62 advantage midway through the second half, but Michigan answered with a 14-2 run to knot the score with just over four minutes left. The Wolverines made crucial plays on both ends of the court to edge out a tight victory.
Vladislav Goldin was a standout performer for Michigan, contributing 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Burnett complemented his game-winning shot with a total of 20 points, while Will Tschetter added 16 points. Danny Wolf also played a significant role with 10 points and eight rebounds. On the Scarlet Knights’ side, freshman Lathan Sommerville delivered a season-high 17 points, with 10 in the second half. Although Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey started strong, scoring 11 points each in the first half, they cooled off as the game progressed, finishing with 17 and 13 points, respectively.
**Takeaways**
For Rutgers, the high-scoring output, a feature not typically associated with Steve Pikiell’s teams, contrasts with their defensive struggles this season. Meanwhile, Michigan’s performance from long distance has been inconsistent, as evidenced by making only five three-point shots for the third consecutive game despite taking over 20 attempts.
**Key Moment**
The decisive moment of the night was Burnett’s deep three-pointer from the left wing, which effectively sealed the victory for Michigan just before the final buzzer.
**Key Stat**
Rutgers’ remarkable first-half performance saw them shoot an impressive 68% from the field.
**Up Next**
Michigan is set to host Illinois on Sunday, while Rutgers will travel to face No. 20 Purdue on Tuesday night.
