The old saying that it's not how you start, it's how you finish, applied perfectly to Michigan basketball on Tuesday night.
In a season defined by an incredible turnaround, but also by some lost leads -- this time it was Michigan basketball that rallied from a 9-point second-half deficit to defeat Purdue 75-73 in a finish that nearly caused Wolverine nation to have a heart attack.
Braden Smith did all he could to bring back Purdue. He drilled two 3-pointers in the last 30 seconds and got a game-winning attempt up at the buzzer nearly erasing a six-point lead in the final minute.
It hit the rim and Michigan basketball celebrated being in first place in the Big Ten (for however long it lasts depending on the MSU result) and also a win over the seventh-ranked team in the AP poll, a team that just beat Michigan by 27 points a few weeks ago.
Early on though, it looked like it would be much like the first game. Braden Smith was hitting shots and it was 8-0 Purdue in the blink of an eye. Tre Donaldson stemmed the tide in the first half. Roddy Gayle provided a spark and a late first-half run cut the Purdue lead down to two.
Yet, in the second half, Purdue stretched its advantage to nine. Michigan was missing wide-open shots and it just felt like it wasn't meant to be.
Then, shots started falling. Nimari Burnett hit two 3-pointers. Vlad Goldin, after getting benched early in the second half, started grabbing offensive rebounds and dominating in the paint. Danny Wolf was making plays. Rubin jones even got in on the action with an assist on a Trey Donaldson 3-pointer that cut the lead to one, before Jones scored after a steal to put U-M in front.
Wolf answered a monster bucket by Smith. Goldin hit some key free throws, Jones dunked home his follow and the defense did just enough. Purdue made seven 3s, just like Michigan. The Wolverines turned it over only 11 times, just as I predicted. They got more offensive rebounds and shot 18 more free throws.
That's where the game was won. Michigan got to the paint -- the one place Purdue didn't want them to get. The Wolverines could have opened up a wider margin if they were able to make some open treys, but they started falling when it mattered.
Wolf led the Wolverines with 15 points and nine rebounds. He also had two blocks and two assists. Goldin added 12 points and five rebounds. He also had three steals. Donaldson finished with 12 points but Gayle added 14 and seven boards off the bench.
The Wolverines are tied atop the Big Ten title race and here are the gut reactions.
Gut reactions to Michigan win over Purdue
- Tre Donaldson saved the game with his opening stretch.
- Vlad Goldin was challenged by Dusty May and he responded in kind. His second half performance was one of the differences in the game.
- Roddy Gayle going to the bench looks pretty damn smart.
- Rubin Jones played winning basketball down the stretch. His defense was huge.
- Dusty May threw a lot at Purdue. Michigan pressed. It used zone, it switched up defenders and eventually, Michigan started consistently getting stops.
- Purdue was more physical early, but Michigan won that battle late.
- Dusty May has to be the Big Ten Coach of the Year.
- Michigan has six quad-1 wins. The Wolverines have beaten four ranked teams and control their Big Ten championship destiny.
- Defense won this game. Purdue shot just 43 percent, 35 percent from 3-point range and had four more assists than turnovers.
- Pinch me.
- Go Blue!