Bloomington, Ind. — In a nail-biting encounter on Saturday, the No. 24 Michigan Wolverines narrowly defeated the Indiana Hoosiers with a final score of 70-67. Danny Wolf was a standout performer for Michigan, contributing 20 points and pulling down nine rebounds. Tre Donaldson and Vladislav Goldin also made significant contributions, each scoring 18 points. Wolf further showcased his versatility by dishing out five assists, helping his team secure their fourth consecutive win while improving to 18-5 overall and 10-2 in conference play. This victory was particularly significant for head coach Dusty May, a former student manager at Indiana, as it ended a four-game losing streak in this historic rivalry.

Despite his injury, Malik Reneau stepped up for the Hoosiers, leading the team with 16 points and five assists while wearing a brace on his right knee. This game followed the announcement by athletic director Scott Dolson that head coach Mike Woodson would not be returning next season, adding to the team’s challenges. Mackenzie Mgbako supported Reneau with a double-double, recording 15 points and 11 rebounds, but Indiana, now at 14-10 and 5-8 in the conference, extended their losing streak to five games.

As the game unfolded, Michigan had a solid lead of 45-27 just before halftime, yet Indiana mounted a strong comeback in the second half, eventually tying the game at 59 with four minutes remaining. In response, Michigan executed a quick 7-2 run, regaining control and keeping Indiana at bay.

Key takeaways from the game include Michigan’s ability to win tightly contested matches, having closed out their last four victories by margins of four points or fewer. Although they had opportunities to make the game less stressful, they still emerged victorious. For Indiana, the effort was apparent, but the team struggled once again after a sluggish start.

A pivotal moment occurred when Goldin made a decisive cut during a fast break, allowing him to deliver the go-ahead dunk with just over three minutes left in the game. In terms of statistics, Michigan excelled in the paint, outscoring Indiana 34-26, and also fared well in capitalizing on turnovers with a 12-7 advantage.

Looking ahead, Michigan will prepare to face off against No. 7 Purdue, while Indiana will head to play No. 9 Michigan State on Tuesday night.