Michigan basketball didn’t play perfectly Saturday against Illinois. But the Wolverines played well enough to win, especially in the second half as they pulled away 79-69.
Against an Illinois squad that loves to pressure opponents, Michigan struggled with turnovers early and managed just nine points in the first 10 minutes of the game. The Wolverines had a nice spurt late in the first half, thanks to a 3-pointer and a couple dunks by Isaiah Livers, but at the half, the Fighting Illini led 34-31.
Yet, in the second half, Michigan basketball was an entirely different team.