Michigan too much for PSU
STATE COLLEGE – Caris LeVert scored 18 points, Zak Irvin added 17 and Michigan converted clutch free throws down the stretch to hold off Penn State 73-64 Tuesday night.
Michigan (9-6, 2-1 Big Ten), the defending Big Ten regular-season champion, has relied on 3-point shooting all season and it was no different against the Lions. Irvin, LeVert and Aubrey Dawkins each had two as the Wolverines were 9 of 13 from 3-point range and 24 of 45 overall.
Derrick Walton Jr. added 12 points for the Wolverines. Michigan also had a 31-26 rebounding edge on Penn State as Irvin pulled down nine.
It was the Big Ten home opener for Penn State, which is 0-3 in conference play and 12-4 overall. D.J. Newbill scored 20 points and John Johnson had 18 for the Lions, who were 22 of 53 from the field.
Each team was stale offensively to open the second half, but a short hook shot by Ricky Doyle and a dunk by Aubrey Dawkins off a nice lead pass from Spike Albrecht gave Michigan a 45-35 lead.
Back-to-back dunks from Dawkins enabled Michigan to maintain its 10-point lead at 51-41.
But Penn State rallied with a 12-2 run that featured slams from Donovon Jack and Jordan Dickerson, and a Newbill 3-pointer and a nifty drive through the lane to tie the game at 53 at the 7:36 mark.
Three buckets from LeVert, each featuring slick dribbling skills against tight defense from Penn State’s Johnson, gave Michigan a 62-58 edge with 3:04 remaining.
Notes: Penn State is 1-8 in its last nine games against Michigan and has lost 21 of the past 25 in the series that Michigan leads 31-12. . Penn State was 7-0 at home prior to Tuesday’s loss.
UP NEXT:
Michigan is at home against Minnesota on Saturday.
Penn State has the weekend off and is at Indiana on Tuesday.