Associated Press, December 13, 2017
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman had 17 points and 10 rebounds, including a key 3-pointer, and Michigan beat Texas 59-52 on Tuesday night.
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Abdur-Rahkman was 7 of 15 from the floor, and his 3 with 4:53 remaining gave Michigan a 10-point lead. Charles Matthews added 12 points, while Moritz Wagner and Duncan Robinson scored 10 apiece for the Wolverines (9-3).
Dylan Osetkowski scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half to lead Texas (6-3), which shot a season-low 36.5 percent. Kerwin Roach II chipped in 11 points, and Mo Bamba added 10 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.
Michigan led 32-20 after a first half in which Texas shot poorly from the field, 30.4 percent, and especially on 3-pointers, missing eight of nine. Matthews scored the last six points for Michigan before the break.
Texas has struggled on offense all season, and this was the first game without injured guard Andrew Jones, their leading scorer.
Osetkowski prevented Michigan from pulling away by scoring nine points during the first four minutes of the second half, and the Longhorns cut a 12-point halftime deficit to three with 14:11 remaining.
Michigan responded with an 11-0 push, including three consecutive 3-pointers in a span of less than two minutes, to take a 14-point lead.
BIG PICTURE
Michigan: The Wolverines, after facing North Carolina, Indiana, Ohio State, UCLA and Texas in a span of two weeks, and finishing the stretch 3-2, are heading toward a softer part of their schedule. Their next three games, between Saturday and Dec. 30, are against Detroit Mercy, Alabama A&M and Jacksonville.
Texas: Jones is not only the Longhorns' leading scorer with more than 15 points a game, he's their most accurate 3-point shooter. Jones missed his first game since suffering a hairline fracture of the right wrist last week at Virginia Commonwealth. Texas gave no timetable for Jones' return, but coach Shaka Smart said he hopes to have him back soon after Christmas. Eric Davis Jr. started in place of Jones and made one free throw, and missed all five of his shots from the field.
UP NEXT
Michigan faces Detroit Mercy on Saturday at a neutral site, Little Caesar's Arena, home of the Detroit Pistons.
Texas hosts Louisiana Tech on Saturday.