Purdue (20-1, 9-1) Boilermaker Zach Edey dunked Michigan (11-9, 5-4) during Thursday’s game at Crisler Center, Ann Arbor.
The 7’4” 295 lb. Edey scored 19 points against the Wolverines, 15 of them during the first half. Able to deflect even the likes of 7’1” Hunter Dickinson, the Purdue center puts up hook shots the way shorter people send outgoing mail, without trouble and little fanfare. Even Edey’s expression says as much—no matter how points he makes, he looks as if he’s in line for a parcel at the post office.
But Michigan hung tough. A Zach Edey free throw tied the score 7-7, and a Hunter Dickinson layup put the Wolverines ahead. Michigan led by as much as 5 points until a layup by Boilermaker Brandon Newman tied the score 20-20.
An Edey jumper put Purdue ahead 26-25 at 9:06, tying the score 28-28 with a jumper less than two minutes later. The Boilermakers gathered steam with a 15-0 scoring run that left Michigan in the dust, 41-28. The Wolverines shaved the lead to 6 points at half-time.
Edey was kept from the basket during the second half, and it was Wolverine Kobe Bufkin’s turn to shine. The Michigan guard scored 16 points total, 11 of them in the second half. Dickinson scored 21 points and guard Joey Baker 11 points.
The Boilermakers led by 11 points at 17:28, 48-37, but the Wolverines stayed on their heels. A layup by Jace Howard put Michigan within 5 points of Purdue at 12:34, and both teams went cold until Boilermaker David Jenkins Jr. put up a three-pointer, putting the score 58-48, Purdue ahead.
Baker, however, put Michigan within striking distance of Purdue with seven seconds left on the clock—a three pointer that put the score 73-70. But two seconds later Baker fouled, and Purdue guard Brandon Newman made both free throw shots. The game ended 75-70, and Purdue remains unbeaten on the road.
The Wolverines take on Penn State next on Sunday, January 29, 12:00 P.M.
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Free Press