No. 7 Michigan Beats Middle Tennessee 86-61

The No. 7 Michigan Wolverines secured an 86-61 victory over the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Wednesday night at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, pulling away in the second half after a sluggish start to improve to 4-0 on the season.

Both teams entered the matchup undefeated at 3-0, with Michigan ranked seventh in the nation and Middle Tennessee picked to finish fourth in Conference USA. The Blue Raiders, coached by Nicholas McDevitt since 2019, had won their first three games, including a 77-72 decision over Evansville on November 12 behind Kamari Lands' 23 points. Michigan, meanwhile, had survived close calls against Wake Forest and TCU before a more comfortable win over Oakland. The teams had met only once before, in 1986, when Middle Tennessee edged Michigan 85-83 in a neutral-site game in Birmingham, Alabama.

The first half proved challenging for the Wolverines, who trailed early after Middle Tennessee hit three of its first shots from beyond the arc and played aggressive defense. The Blue Raiders shot 7-for-20 from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes, keeping the score tight at halftime with Michigan leading by just six, 40-34. Michigan managed only seven...