Moe Wagner carries Michigan Basketball to National Title Game

Michigan basketball advanced to the National Championship game after a 12-point win over Loyola and a dominant effort by Moe Wagner.

For much of the National Semifinal against Loyola, the Michigan basketball team looked off. The Wolverines actually trailed by seven points at the half and 10 early in the second stanza.

But when things looked bleak, Moe Wagner, with the help of Jordan Poole, Duncan Robinson, Jaaron Simmons and Charles Matthews, saved the day. The junior, who has had a lot of great games as a Wolverine, had maybe his finest moment in a 24-point, 15-rebound performance in UM’s 69-57 win. Michigan will play for the national title Monday night.

After Loyola scored to go up 45-37, Michigan basketball looked in trouble. The offense was out of sync and shots just weren’t falling. Following a timeout, John Beilein put Jordan Poole into the game and the freshman scored a bucket to cut the lead to six.

Shortly after, Robinson knocked down his second 3-pointer of the game. It trimmed the Ramblers lead to three points and gave the senior six for the game. Michigan is undefeated this season when Robinson scores six or more.

Loyola scored to go back up five, but Poole got another quick drive for a deuce. On the next Wolverines’ possession, Wagner buried a step-back three and suddenly the score was tied, 47-47.

At that point, Michigan’s defense took over. Poole made two free throws to put Michigan up two, then a Wagner assist got a bucket for Matthews, which was followed by a Wagner 3-point play that put Michigan up seven with four minutes to go.

Yet, Wagner wasn’t done. With the lead back down to five, he scored inside then nailed another three from the top of the key, pushing the advantage to 59-51. The Wolverines didn’t allow a 3-pointer down the stretch and made free throws in the last couple minutes to ice the win.

While Wagner was great, Matthews was also exceptional, scoring 17 points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out three assists. His defense was also outstanding, as was Wagner’s down the stretch on Cameron Krutwig.

Robinson finished the game with nine points, Poole had seven and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, who was 2-of-11 from the field, added seven including a clutch 4-for-4 performance at the line in the last two minutes.

It was the seventh straight win in the round of the Final Four for Michigan, which has just a 1-5 record in the National Championship game. The Wolverines have lost three in a row, falling in 1992 and 1993 to Duke and North Carolina, as well as in 2013 to Lousiville.

The Wolverines last won the national title in 1989. They will go for their second Monday night at approximately 9:15 EST against Villanova or Kansas.