ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Interstat) — The Michigan Wolverines, showcasing the depth and efficiency that has defined their dominant season, methodically dispatched the Indiana Hoosiers 86-72 in a Big Ten men’s basketball game Tuesday night at a sold-out Crisler Center.

In a contest that saw the Wolverines improve to 17-1 overall and the Hoosiers fall to 12-7, Michigan’s superior offensive execution and defensive presence proved too much for an Indiana team struggling to find consistent rhythm. The game was never a blowout, but Michigan maintained a firm grip, leading by 11 at halftime and never allowing the Hoosiers within single digits in the second half.

The most important stretch of the game arrived early in the second period, effectively extinguishing any lingering hope of an Indiana comeback. Leading 40-29 at the break, Michigan opened the second half with an authoritative 8-2 run in just over two minutes. The sequence was a microcosm of their evening: a layup by 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara, followed by a Sam Alexis score for Indiana, was immediately answered by a Nimari Burnett three-pointer and a Yaxel Lendeborg three-pointer, the latter assisted by Mara. That burst pushed the lead to 48-31 and forced an Indiana timeout just 1:54 into the half.

Indiana, which shot just 40.4% from the field and a frigid 32.4% from three-point range, could not mount a sustained challenge against Michigan’s balanced attack and interior defense. The Wolverines shot 50.9% from the floor and blocked six shots, with Mara recording three of those rejections to go with his 13 points.

Elliot Cadeau led all scorers with 19 points for Michigan, including a perfect 8-for-8 performance from the free-throw line in the final minutes to seal the outcome. Yaxel Lendeborg filled the stat sheet with 15 points, four assists and two blocks, while Mara’s 13 points and three blocks anchored the paint. Morez Johnson added nine points and Trey McKenney contributed 10 off the bench.

For Indiana, Tucker DeVries and Nick Dorn each scored 15 points, with Dorn hitting three three-pointers. Reed Bailey and Sam Alexis added 11 points apiece. The Hoosiers were hampered by a stagnant offense, managing only four total assists on 23 made field goals.

Michigan’s offensive rating of 121.7 on 71 possessions starkly contrasted with Indiana’s 102.1, underlining the efficiency gap. The Wolverines also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 22 of 33 attempts compared to Indiana’s 15 of 18, and won the battle on the offensive glass 11-5.

The victory extends Michigan’s formidable start to the season, their lone loss coming in a narrow 91-88 defeat to Wisconsin on Jan. 10. They have now won three straight since. Indiana, meanwhile, has lost three consecutive conference games, having fallen to Nebraska, Michigan State and Iowa in its previous contests.

A crowd of 12,707 watched as Michigan consistently answered every minor Indiana push. When the Hoosiers cut the deficit to 66-58 midway through the second half after a Nick Dorn three-pointer, Michigan responded with a 6-0 spurt, keyed by free throws from Lendeborg and McKenney, to restore a 14-point cushion and effectively put the game out of reach.

The Wolverines next host Ohio State on Friday. Indiana travels to face Rutgers on Friday, seeking to end its current skid.