Wolverines rout visiting Hilltoppers, 112-64
Published 5:09 pm Monday, December 30, 2024
Western Kentucky forward Tyrone Marshall Jr., middle, drives to the basket in between Michigan guard Tre Donaldson, left, and forward Danny Wolf (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Western Kentucky head coach Hank Plona watches his team play against Michigan during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Western Kentucky forward Tyrone Marshall Jr. (24) dunks against Michigan during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Western Kentucky guard Enoch Kalambay (23) puts up a shot past Michigan guards L.J. Cason (2) and Justin Pippen (10) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Western Kentucky guard Don McHenry shoots a free throw against Michigan during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Western Kentucky guard Julius Thedford, right, drives to the basket as he is guarded by Michigan center Vladislav Goldin during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Western Kentucky guard Julius Thedford (13) puts up a shot over Michigan forward Danny Wolf (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Western Kentucky guard Enoch Kalambay, right, shoots over Michigan forward Will Tschetter during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Michigan guard L.J. Cason, left, drives to the basket past Western Kentucky guard Don McHenry during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Michigan center Vladislav Goldin (50) grabs a rebound in between Western Kentucky guards Braxton Bayless (0) and Don McHenry (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Western Kentucky forward Tyrone Marshall Jr. dunks against Michigan during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Western Kentucky guard Jalen Jackson (3) drives to the basket in between Michigan guard Justin Pippen (10), forward Will Tschetter (42) and guard Nimari Burnett (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Western Kentucky’s men’s basketball team closed its nonconference schedule with a 112-64 loss at Michigan on Sunday night in Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
With the loss, the Hilltoppers prepare to enter Conference USA play this week standing at 9-4 overall on the season with an 8-1 mark at home.
Braxton Bayless opened scoring for the Tops on Sunday with a turnaround jumper at the 18:47 mark of the first half. Michigan followed with a nine-point scoring run to bring the count to 13-2 in the Wolverines’ favor with 17:19 to play in the half.
After trading buckets, WKU battled back as Don McHenry cut the Tops’ deficit to just four, 18-14, with 14:38 to play in the first.
Efficient 3-point shooting by Michigan would stretch the Wolverines’ lead to 28 entering the half and WKU went into the break trailing, 59-31. Michigan connected on 8-of-19 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc while limiting the Tops to just 2-of-12 in the first half.
Strong shooting continued for the Wolverines entering the second half as WKU fell behind by 36, 75-39, with 14:55 remaining in regulation. Enoch Kalambay and Julius Thedford helped WKU cut away at the Wolverines’ lead combining for the next seven points, but Michigan continued to match the Tops’ scoring output, eventually taking a 50-point, 102-52 lead with 6:05 left in the game.
McHenry reached 18 points following a made layup with 3:52 remaining. A Jack Edelen 3-pointer and a pair of made free throws by Jaylen Dorsey wrapped scoring for the Tops, and WKU fell to Michigan by a final count of 112-64.
McHenry led the Tops’ scoring effort with 18 points along with four rebounds, two steals and an assist. Tyrone Marshall Jr. and Thedford led the Tops in rebounding with five each; Thedford finished second on the team in scoring with 11 points and posted a team-high two blocks
Kalambay rounded out the Tops to reach double figures on Sunday, scoring 10 points off 4-for-10 shooting from the field.
WKU was limited to a 20.0% shooting clip from beyond the arc compared to Michigan’s 47.5%. The Tops were limited to just 11 points from its bench compared to the Wolverines’ 43.
WKU opens conference play on the road at Liberty on Thursday. Tipoff from Liberty Arena in Lynchburg, Virginia, is slated for 6 p.m. CT and will be nationally televised live on CBS Sports Network.
