Burke (3) driving on Aaron Craft as Michigan offense struggles during 64-49 loss at Ohio State. Photo Credit: Jay LaPrete/ AP
Foul trouble and rebounds haunted No. 20 Michigan in its fifth road loss of the season at No. 4 Ohio State 64-49.
Senior guard Zack Novak and sophomore forward Jordan Morgan and fellow sophomore forward Evan Smotrycz all had four fouls in the game forcing them to play safe on defense.
With Morgan and Smotrycz being the Wolverines (16-6, 6-3 Big Ten) top two rebounders the team needed to rely on someone else to crash the boards.
Unfortunately nobody answered the call.
The Buckeyes (19-3, 7-2 Big Ten) outdid U of M on the boards 37-22 and they brought down 14 offensive rebounds on the night making a comeback impossible.
With the Wolverines being in foul trouble OSU had plenty of opportunity to get to the free throw line and it took advantage making 83 percent from the line going 15-for-18.
That was something U of M didn’t do, get to the line.
Sophomore guard Tim Hardaway Jr. attempted the Wolverines first free throw attempts with 2:34 to go in the game; he went 3-for-4 on the game from the line which was the total for the team as well.
The only thing U of M did right was holding sophomore guard Jared Sullinger to just four points in the first half and didn’t make a shot in the second half until his dunk with 4:24 to go that took the wind out of Michigan.
The Wolverines return to Crisler Arena Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. to host No. 17 Indiana in hopes to get back on their winning ways before hitting the road again to Michigan St. and Nebraska.
