Michigan led for most of its Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal win over Ohio State, but it flirted with danger in the second half. The Wolverines could never put the game away, and the Buckeyes took a late lead in the final five minutes.
The building came alive, the upset was on, and Michigan had to respond. The answer? Defense. Michigan recorded stops on five of six possessions down the stretch, manufacturing just enough scores to pull away from the upset push.
The Wolverines pulled out the game with their defense and size. Michigan had Aday Mara, and Ohio State had no answer for his 7-foot-3 dominance in the paint. Mara was effective on both ends of the court, finishing with 17 points (13 in the second half), 7 boards, and two blocks in his first KenPom MVP performance since the last time these two teams met.
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