INDIANAPOLIS — In a thrilling Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal on Friday, No. 22 Michigan secured a commanding 86-68 victory over No. 20 Purdue, effectively breaking a three-game losing streak. Danny Wolf was pivotal for the Wolverines, contributing 18 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. This victory propels the second-seed Michigan team (23-9) into a Saturday semifinal clash against No. 11 Maryland (25-7).
Michigan’s performance was a collective effort, with eight players scoring six or more points. Vladislav Goldin added a solid 15 points and eight rebounds, while Tre Donaldson scored 13 points and Roddy Gayle Jr. chipped in 11. The Wolverines, after conceding the first six points of the game, quickly found their rhythm and maintained a lead for the remaining 37 minutes.
On the Purdue side, Trey Kaufman-Renn led the charge for the sixth-seed team, amassing 24 points and nine rebounds. The Big Ten player of the year, Braden Smith, who had averaged 24 points and 8.5 assists in prior matchups against Michigan, was limited to 12 points on 5-of-18 shooting, including 2-of-10 from beyond the arc. Smith also recorded six assists.
The game underscored Purdue’s reliance on its top duo in Kaufman-Renn and Smith; however, their NCAA Tournament success may largely depend on the consistency of their supporting players. Meanwhile, Michigan’s cohesive play was a much-needed boost after a tepid end to their regular season. Demonstrating the importance of teamwork, the Wolverines amassed 25 assists while limiting their turnovers to just six, proving their resilience and capability.
A significant moment occurred as Michigan embarked on a 12-5 run to open the second half, establishing a 52-41 lead following a critical 3-pointer by Donaldson, which further solidified their control over the game.
Statistically, Michigan excelled, especially in sharing the ball, as they posted 25 assists compared to Purdue’s 11, highlighting an edge even over Smith, the league’s assist leader.
While Purdue now looks ahead to securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament, Michigan is set to face Maryland in a highly anticipated semifinal matchup on Saturday.
