UM basketball improves to 4-1 with win over Tarleton State

On By Littum

Ann Arbor – Michigan coach Dusty May and his staff built their non-conference schedule with a purpose.

While May inherited some games already signed before he was hired, he greenlit several contests against big opponents. He wanted the Wolverines to play as competitively as possible.

Sometimes a team has to fill a date with any opponent it can find. For example, Thursday’s 72-49 win over Tarleton State at the Crisler Center.

For Michigan (4-1), it was the third straight win by double digits. For Tarleton State (1-5) — a Texas-based program that transferred to Division I in 2020 — it was its fourth road loss by at least 20 points.

The Wolverines, who were 31.5-point favorites, led by as many as 11 in the first half and by 10 at halftime before breaking things up in the second half.

Michigan turned things up on both ends out of halftime and went on a 10-0 run. The Wolverines forced two 10-second backcourt fouls in the span of three possessions. Tre Donaldson (13 points) had a smart assist and finish in transition to put the Wolverines up, 50-30, with 16:21 left.

Just when it looked like the route was on its way, Michigan’s offense fizzled out. Missed sharp layups. Forgotten looks from 3-point range. Missed free throw. The Wolverines missed seven consecutive shots and made just one field goal over a seven-minute stretch.

Tarleton State could only cut the deficit to 13 before Michigan regained its shooting touch and used a 9-0 burst to extend the margin, 66-44, with 4:25 left. From that point on, the Wolverines’ lead never dropped below 17 points.

Roddy Gayle Jr. had 16 points, Sam Walters 13 and Vlad Goldin 12 for Michigan, which scored 28 points off 24 Tarleton State turnovers.

Bubu Benjamin scored 15 for Tarleton State, which could only muster 19 points in a second half in which it had twice as many turnovers (13) as made baskets (six).

Tarleton State won 25 games a year ago and finished second in the Western Athletic Conference behind Grand Canyon, which reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Most of the key contributors from that team are gone and it shows.

The Texans entered the matchup ranked near the bottom in the country in several offensive and defensive categories, including a nation-worst 22.8 turnovers per game. On top of that, they have one of the worst scoring margins of any team (allowing 84 points and scoring 61) thanks to a 20-point loss at Florida State, a 34-point loss at SMU and a 63-point loss at Baylor.

But like its first trip to Ann Arbor three seasons ago — one that ended in an 11-point Michigan win — Tarleton State struggled, at least at first.

After Michigan took an early eight-point lead on the strength of six quick points from Nimari Burnett, it hit a rough patch. The Wolverines went four minutes without scoring and Tarleton State scored eight straight to pull within 11 with 12:29 left in the first half.

Michigan pulled back in front by seven straight points, but had a hard time shaking Tarleton State. Benjamin hit one tough 3-pointer after another. A live-ball turnover by Michigan led to a dunk the other way. The Texans used an 8-0 run to take their first and only lead, 24-23, at the 6:54 mark.

The Wolverines finally created some separation late in the half. Walters hit a pair of 3-pointers. Gayle bookended a 10-0 burst with a pair of layups. Michigan took a 40-30 advantage into halftime.

Next up for Michigan is a six-game stretch against Power Four competition, starting with Virginia Tech and either South Carolina or Xavier in the Fort Myers Tip-Off next week. Then there are two Big Ten games – at Wisconsin on Dec. 3 and at home against Iowa on Dec. 7 – followed by neutral-site games against Arkansas on Dec. 10 in New York and Oklahoma on Dec. 18 in Charlotte.

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@jamesbhawkins