Michigan Basketball: Why the Ohio State loss hurts so much

Michigan basketball had a 13-point lead against Ohio State Monday night, but the Wolverines still ended up losing in brutal fashion.

Just when you think being a Wolverines fan can’t get any worse, Michigan basketball found a way to make it so, surrendering a lead that grew as large as 20 at one point in a 71-62 loss to Ohio State.

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Sometimes, as a Michigan fan, it’s hard not to feel snake bitten. And for a while Monday night, everything was going so well.

Michigan basketball flew out of the gates. Moe Wagner scored 12 points in the first half. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rakhman had nine and Zavier Simpson had seven. The high point came when Wagner nailed his second 3-pointer of the first half, giving the Wolverines a 43-23 lead.

However, in the final minutes before the first half finished, Ohio State scored seven straight points and trimmed the lead to 43-30. That run would eventually be part of a 24-3 spurt that put the Buckeyes in front 49-46.

Michigan basketball would rally to reclaim the lead, getting up by as many as four, thanks to some trips to the free throw line. But when it came down to it, the Wolverines couldn’t make enough shots.

At one point in the second half, Michigan was 24-of-29 from the field. The trio of Wagner, MAAR and Duncan Robinson, was 0-of-15 combined in the final 20 minutes of play. That’s how UM managed only 19 points in the second half and got dealt its third loss of the season.

The disappointing thing is that the Wolverines had this game and blew it. You could taste the 2-0 mark in the Big Ten that was at stake. It also would have been great to get a win over the hated Buckeyes, who also upset Michigan in Ann Arbor last February.

You can’t shoot 37 percent from the field and win. Ditto with the 28 percent mark from beyond the arc. The go-to guys also need to be better. Wagner was a turnover or bad shot waiting to happen in the second half. Everyone else seem to get physically ill at the idea of a big shot. Or, passed it the ball like it was a hot potato, regardless of situation or time on the shot clock.

Whatever happened in the second half, hopefully Michigan basketball gets it fixed. Games against UCLA and Texas are looming and after blowing leads and potential wins against LSU and Ohio State, UM needs to turn it around.

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The Wolverines have until Saturday, when the Bruins will come calling.