Michigan took the floor at Crisler Center tonight looking to build some momentum after defeating Ohio State on Monday, playing host to a ranked Illinois team. The two sides battled through a back-and-forth first half, one that saw Michigan whittle the gap down to a single point at halftime. If you were expecting an inspired second half to finish off a signature win at that point, you didn't get it. The Wolverines were bullied on the glass by a more talented, more physical, and hungrier opponent as Illinois outscored Michigan 51-37 in the second half, grabbing firm control around the halfway mark and never letting Michigan get close again en route to a 15 point road win. Michigan is now 7-11 on the year and is 2-5 in B1G play. 

The visiting Illini came out hot, watching Michigan score the game's opening points but then quickly cobbling together an 11-0 run to give them a solid lead. Coleman Hawkins foreshadowed what would be a strong night for him by dropping in a layup and a three to help build that lead, but Michigan began to tug back. They'd cut the Illinois lead down to 20-15 by the midway point of the first half and then trimmed it to just one thanks to an Olivier Nkamhoua fadeaway and a Will Tschetter tap-in. The game to this point was high scoring, few turnovers either way and both teams doing well on the offensive glass. 

The teams traded scores down the stretch in the first half, Illinois maintaining a narrow lead until Michigan made its final push before the intermission. Tarris Reed Jr. scored on a lay-in to make it 35-31, which was followed by Dug McDaniel and Jaelin Llewellyn tying up the ball to turn over Illinois, showing a bit of fire in the process. Using that energy, Michigan owned the final minute. Dug McDaniel knocked down a jumper down, Michigan forced a missed shot by Ty Rodgers and grabbed the defensive rebound, and then Llewellyn converted on a three while being fouled. Llewellyn missed the free throw that would've tied it, but Michigan was content to go into the break down 37-36 after Marcus Domask's three at the horn was off the mark. 

[Marc-Gregor Campredon]

Michigan didn't tie it there, but they would do so just under 90 seconds into the second half, doing so on a McDaniel floater coming off a couple fancy crossovers. That made the score 38-38 but Illinois didn't waste any time to throw a punch. They launched a 10-2 run immediately after, Luke Goode and Hawkins pouring in threes to spring Illinois. Michigan responded with a 7-0 run of their own, Nkamhoua canning a three and finishing in tight after a sweet assist from a penetrating McDaniel. Illinois led 48-47 at that point, some six minutes into the second half. 

Just as Michigan's response run ended, Illinois responded to the response, a 10-0 run of their own. It started with an and-one up-and-under layup by Justin Harmon, who hit the free throw to complete the three-point play. Michigan came down the court and found Terrance Williams II for a wide-open corner three but the ice cold TWill missed the shot. Illinois rebounded it down, came up the court, handed the rock to the trailer Luke Goode, who knocked it down. Sometimes it's a make or miss sport. Two buckets in the paint followed while the Michigan offense sputtered, the latter being a transition dunk after Nkamhoua was swatted by Domask, and suddenly it was 58-47 Illinois. 

That 10-0 run was the swing moment of the game. Illinois built back to a double digit lead with it and after it concluded, Michigan never came within striking distance over the final 11.5 minutes of the contest. The Wolverines would have moments, but nothing coherent enough to tie the score. Their offensive problems plagued them around this juncture of the game, with the run eventually stretching to 17-2 in favor of Illinois and the lead 65-49 with 8:19 left. Over a six minute span between the 14 minute remaining mark and the 8 minute remaining mark, Michigan scored two points, a pair of free throws by Nimari Burnett. Grim. 

[AFTER THE JUMP: more recap]

[Marc-Gregor Campredon]

They finally got a few buckets to fall and lined Williams up for another three, with the chance to pull the margin to within 10, but the senior wing couldn't connect again. Instead Ty Rodgers of Illinois hit a jumper on the ensuing Illinois possession and the lead was back to 15. That kind of night. The Wolverines eventually switched to a zone defense, which did well to slow Illinois down, but the vulnerabilities created on the glass haunted Michigan, as Illinois was able to build on what was an already strong offensive rebounding night.

Over those final six or so minutes, the Illini hounded Michigan in the paint as Hawkins and big man Quincy Guerrier guzzled rebounds and extended possessions to ensure that no matter how many points McDaniel or Reed created, it wasn't going to be enough to create a competitive game. When Michigan went to a press, Illinois broke it down and created easy points. The lead never trimmed to less than nine, Michigan's offense got sloppier, and by the final minute, Michigan's spirit was broken. The lead spiraled and ended near a game-high of 15. Final score: 88-73 Illinois. 

[Marc-Gregor Campredon]

The box score is rather amusing, as both teams shot a nearly identical clip from the floor, Michigan 30/62 and Illinois 30/63. The margin lay in Illinois shooting better from three and getting 18 more free throw attempts. Hawkins led the way with 21, plus 10 boards, for the Illini. Guerrier chipped in 16 and 14, while Rodgers and Domask each added 15 for the visitors. They snatched 13 offensive rebounds, 12 of them by Rodgers, Guerrier, and Hawkins. That allowed those players to attempt 18 free throws combined, plus additional points inside. 

Michigan was led by 20 from Reed, but only five rebounds for the big man stands out. McDaniel had 14, but on a rather inefficient 7/18. Nkamhoua added 16 and was Michigan's lone productive three point shooter. Williams and Nimari Burnett were both very quiet, Williams finishing 0/4 from three after his white hot shooting effort on Monday against Ohio State. Turnovers were rather low for both sides in this one, nine for Michigan and six for the Illini. 

The Wolverines are now 7-11 on the season and 2-5 in the conference. They are 4-11 after starting an energetic 3-0, the loss to Long Beach State seemingly sending the team into a spiral they have yet to break. The Wolverines have lost six of seven as well, and are now outside the top 70 in KenPom. It is difficult to see much improving in the near term, as Michigan heads on the road for their toughest game of the regular season, a meeting with #2 Purdue in West Lafayette on Tuesday. That game is scheduled for 9:00 pm EST and will be broadcast on Peacock.