ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Valdislav Goldin was a standout performer, scoring 31 points while Nimari Burnett contributed 13 to help No. 20 Michigan secure an 80-76 victory against Northwestern in a thrilling overtime matchup on Sunday.
The Wolverines, now holding a record of 14-4 and 6-1 in Big Ten play, bounced back impressively from an earlier overtime defeat against Minnesota. Roddy Gayle Jr. and Tre Donaldson added 10 points each, bolstering the team’s offensive effort. In the final stages, Michigan demonstrated poise by sinking 9 of their 10 free-throw attempts in the final minute and twenty seconds, sealing the win against the Wildcats, who are now 11-7 with a 2-5 conference record.
Brooks Barnhizer was the key player for Northwestern, leading his team with 21 points. He was supported by Nick Martinelli, who tossed in 20 points, and Jalen Leach, who contributed 19 before being ejected from the game.
As the clock wound down in regulation, Gayle’s basket granted Michigan a narrow 65-63 lead with just 34 seconds left. However, Northwestern’s Matthew Nicholson drew a foul and converted two free throws with only 4.8 seconds remaining, pushing the game into overtime.
Takeaways from the game highlight that Northwestern’s defense provided significant challenges for Michigan. The Wildcats effectively contained the Wolverines during the first half, restricting them to a mere 29% shooting, which included a dismal start where Michigan missed 12 of their first 13 attempts.
Despite struggling to find their rhythm, Michigan managed to prevail with a 36% shooting average for the game, their lowest this season. A pivotal moment occurred when Leach was ejected for a flagrant-2 foul after kicking Goldin with 9:23 left in the game. Goldin seized the moment, sinking both free throws and narrowing the deficit to 54-53.
Notably, the Wildcats have faced a longstanding challenge at Michigan, having not secured a victory on the Wolverines’ home court since 2010.
Looking ahead, Northwestern is set to host Indiana on Wednesday, while Michigan will travel to Purdue on Friday night.
