Game 3: Marquette at Michigan Recap

Marquette arrived in Ann Arbor with two blowout wins over low-major teams. Michigan had already taken a loss on the chin in Boston last week.

That humbling experience paid off when Marquette put together a 12-2 run midway through the first half. This time, Michigan responded, rattling off a 13-0 run of its own to flip the game and eventually build a 22-point advantage in the second half.

Shaka Smart pulled all five starters in dismay two minutes into the second half. Michigan leaned on its starting five for over 75% of its minutes and scoring and, more importantly, a win. While the starters carried the day, a bench player changed the game.

Freshman wing Quinn Costello made the difference. He scored 15 points on 5-of-6 3-point shooting and helped break the game open. The Wolverines played him alongside the starting bigs and starting guards. That lineup had played one possession in Michigan’s first two games, but outscored Marquette by 22 points in 10:20 on the floor together.

This Michigan team has been looking for answers on its bench, and it found one option tonight.