Michigan advances to Sweet 16 with win over Texas

Wolverines beat Longhorns 79-65 in third round game

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. – The Michigan Wolverines are headed to the Sweet 16 in Indianapolis after a 79-65 win over the Texas Longhorns on Saturday. Michigan got contributions from its entire starting lineup, which all scored in double figures besides Derrick Walton Jr., who chipped in with eight points.

Michigan led the Longhorns 43-30 at halftime behind hot shooting from Caris LeVert, who scored 11 first-half points, and Nik Stauskas, who had nine in the first half. As a team, the Wolverines shot over 50 percent in the first 20 minutes.

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In fact, Michigan was nearly flawless in the first half, turning the ball over just three times and committing its first foul with 4:12 on the clock when LeVert fouled Texas's Isaiah Taylor.

Michigan built its lead up to as many as 18 early in the second half, leading 53-35. But after an 8-0 run, Texas pulled within 10 points for the first time in the second half when a Taylor floater made it 53-43 with 11:15 remaining in regulation.

The biggest concern for Michigan coming into the third-round matchup, was the superior rebounding of the much bigger Longhorns team. The Wolverines lost the first-half battle on the boards just 16-15, but were exploited in the second half. Texas finished the game with 41 rebounds to just 30 for Michigan.

Stauskas ended the Longhorns run and a nearly-six-minute scoring drought for the Wolverines after a John Beilein timeout with a big 3-pointer that made it 56-43.

Michigan pulled away late in the half after timely 3-pointers by Spike Albrecht and LeVert.

The Wolverines will take on the winner of Sunday's Mercer vs. Tennessee game on Friday in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The time of the game is to be determined