Opposed to Colorado State (6), Michigan (11) was not particularly favorite for its entry into the running, and the first half proved the hierarchy of the seeds right. The Rams took the Wolverines by the throat from the start, imposing their frantic offensive pace and their outside address (8/20 behind the arc).
Deprived of his master to play DeVante ‘Jones, Michigan is next to the plate in attack: 8 loss of balls in 12 minutes (9 in the first half), forced shots which lead to a catastrophic address (0/8 to three -points in the first half). Only the pivot Hunter Dickinson floats in the low post (12 points and 5 rebounds), since Colorado State has no training pivot, and therefore suffers a significant size deficit. At the break, the Rams have a comfortable advantage (36-29).
But nothing is ever certain in a university game, and the Wolverines make every effort to remind their opponents of this when they return from the locker room. Still under the impetus of an omnipresent Dickinson, well helped by the awakening of “freshman” Caleb Houstan and veteran point guard Eli Brooks (16 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals), Michigan immediately launched a furious comeback and following 10 minutes in the second half, they are in the lead on the scoreboard (53-49).
From this moment, Colorado State will no longer regain the advantage of the match, and helplessly attends a consequent reversal of the situation. Stunned by this momentum, the Rams show nervousness and chain the hazardous possessions in attack. The insolent address of the first half is only a distant memory, and the match gradually escapes David Roddy’s teammates (13 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists).
Jostled in the first period, during which it was up to 15 points behind, Juwan Howard’s troops finally won quite easily (75-63), thanks to an attack found in the second period (46 points). In the second round, the Wolverines of Frenchman Moussa Diabaté (7 points, 9 rebounds) will face the winner of the match between Tennessee, seeded n°3 and huge favorite of the meeting, and Longwood, seeded n°14.
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