Ann Arbor, MI— Michigan is on roll and playing Wolverine’s basketball. Franz Wagner had 16 points and was one of five to score in double digits for Michigan in an 89-65 win over Indiana on Sunday.
Zavier Simpson chipped in with 12 points and 11 assists for the Wolverines, who have won five-of-six to improve to 16-and-9.
Simpson set the tone of the game early, and Michigan was able to get anything offensively against Indiana. The ball was moving crisply in the four corners and the Wolverines was able to hit threes. There were five Wolverines players in double figures and they shot 57.4-percent from the field and a 9-of-17 (52.9 percent) from Ann Arbor’s parking lot.
The Wolverines (16-9, 7-7 Big Ten) have won three straight for the first time since opening the season with seven wins.
“Everything is clicking,” said Eli Brooks, who scored 13 points. “Everybody is confident.”
The loss puts pressure on coach Archie Miller to figure out how to turn his team around quickly enough to be considered for the dance in March.
“We got completely dominated, especially midway through the second half,” Miller said.
“There’s no point worrying about the NCAA Tournament right now,” Miller said.
Aljami Durham had 17 points for the Hoosiers, Trayce Jackson-Davis who was averaging a team-high 14 points took just three shots and five points.
Indiana’s Justin Smith (nine) and Devonte Green (three) were held to single digits after each entered the game averaging 11 points.
The Wolverines took a 14-12 lead on Brooks’ 3-pointer and stayed ahead the rest of the game, going ahead by as much as 12 points before taking a 41-34 lead at the break.
Indiana did not put up much of a fight to come back in the second half, falling behind by 20 points with 12:43 left after the Wolverines went on an 11-1 run.
The Wolverines were in control for much of the contest with Simpson leading the way and making sure his team stayed in attack mode for the rest of the game.
“He made some great decisions with the basketball and with controlling the tempo of the game,” coach Juwan Howard said.
IU (16-9, 6-8) have lost five of their last six games.
“Every team goes through their ups and downs and we’re going through ours,” Indiana senior De’Ron Davis said after scoring a career-high 18 points.
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