2. Michigan's three point shooting was erased in the second half
30 of Michigan's 42 points came from three in the opening 20 minutes. They didn't make a single one after halftime. A combined four Wolverines totaled the 10 triples. The Wolverines did score more points in the second, then they did in the first by a point. Despite those 10 triples, USC held a narrow lead in the first period too.
Without the three to depend on, Roddy Gayle scored all 12 of his points in the second stanza. Vlad Goldin has eight consecutive games with 11 or more points now. Justin Pippen got to play in front of his hall of fame dad, which was a raucous crowd, that by the sounds of it, contained a lot of Michigan backers.
USC has now lost four of its games by 11 or less, besides the St. Mary's debacle. On the flipside, Michigan basketball has now won all three of its Big Ten games by four possessions or less. They sit atop the conference with their in-state brethren for the time being.