Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways from extraordinary win in Columbus

The good Michigan basketball team showed up on Sunday and carved out an unexpected win over their arch-rival in their house.

As the first half came to a close in Value City Arena Ohio State put the pedal to the floor and jumped out to their biggest lead of the day.

Once the second half opened up Michigan basketball slowly came creeping back. DeVante’ Jones took it upon himself to connect on a couple of triples to put the Wolverines on top and hold on the rest of the way for a definitive road win that not many thought would happen.

Here are the three takeaways.

1. Instead of making excuses Michigan took control of their own destiny

No Juwan Howard, no Hunter Dickinson, and yet Michigan basketball did the unthinkable. Few, if any, gave Michigan a chance without its head coach and best player going into enemy territory after losing to them some weeks back and especially losing at home to Iowa on Thursday. Things seemed grim, but Michigan didn’t let it affect them on Sunday.

Jones stepped up immensely in Hunter’s absence. He played his best game of the year for sure. He was an assist away from a double-double and helped the squad only turn it over six times, compared to 13 for the Buckeyes. He added a pair of steals too, as the Wolverines stole the ball nine more times than the Buckeyes did.

Terrance Williams was a savior off the bench with 17, but the most clutch shot of the victory came from Kobe Bufkin.

Ohio State got within four with a minute and a half left when Bufkin confidently came in for Jones, who got nicked up for a minute, and officially crushed Ohio State’s chances of a late comeback.