After a first-half shootout, Michigan’s bigs were the difference against Howard

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Up by four points at the midway point of its first-round matchup against No. 16 seed Howard is probably not the place the No. 1 seed Michigan men’s basketball team expected it to be. But even more surprisingly, the Wolverines probably didn’t expect to find themselves in a 3-point shooting contest where they went 7-for-13 from deep in the first half, and the Bison went 10-for-16.

Michigan’s front court is often where its games have been won or lost. The second half, when both teams started cooling down from beyond the arc, was when that group started to execute as expected.

“We knew we had the size advantage from the start,” junior guard Elliot Cadeau said. “We didn’t want to get into a 3-point shootout with them. Even though we felt like we are a better three-point shooting team, we still felt like we wanted to exploit the personnel.”

What was a high-flying first half eventually settled into the type of game Michigan was looking to play — one through the post that also relied on transition offense.

“In the second half, we just had to be ready to roll with what they’re doing,” Aday Mara said. “They were hitting hard shots, we also knew that it was tough for them to make all those tough shots during both halves. So I think just by increasing our level and defense or intensity, we’re going to be good.”