EUGENE, Ore. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive second-half defensive stand, the Michigan Wolverines overcame a sloppy start and a halftime deficit to defeat the Oregon Ducks 81-71 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Matthew Knight Arena.

The victory improved Michigan’s record to 16-1, while Oregon fell to 8-10. The game, organized by the Big Ten, drew a crowd of 8,750.

The most important part of the contest was a dramatic shift in defensive intensity and offensive efficiency by Michigan after the break. The Wolverines, who trailed 41-40 at halftime after committing nine turnovers that led to 14 Oregon points, flipped the script completely in the final 20 minutes. They held the Ducks to just 30 points on 10-of-32 shooting in the second half, forcing seven turnovers while committing only five themselves.

Michigan’s turnaround was spearheaded by guard Elliot Cadeau, who scored 17 points and dished out five assists, and a collective effort at the rim. The Wolverines blocked seven shots, with 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara of Zaragoza, Spain, swatting three and altering several others. Mara added 12 points and three assists.

Oregon was led by a dominant performance from forward Sean Stewart of Windermere, Florida, who scored a game-high 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting and grabbed several key offensive rebounds. Kwame Evans of Baltimore, Maryland, contributed 18 points for the Ducks, but the team’s offense stagnated after the intermission, managing just six made three-pointers for the game.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring 10 lead changes. Oregon capitalized on Michigan’s early carelessness, scoring 21 points off 14 Wolverine turnovers. Stewart was particularly effective, scoring on putbacks and mid-range jumpers to keep the Ducks in front. Michigan stayed close behind the shooting of Nimari Burnett of Chicago, Illinois, who hit three first-half three-pointers for 15 points, and a size advantage that produced 22 first-half free throw attempts.

The game turned for good during a critical stretch early in the second half. With Oregon leading 47-46, Michigan embarked on a 13-2 run over a four-minute span. The surge was fueled by defense, as the Wolverines forced four consecutive empty Oregon possessions. Offensively, Cadeau hit a three-pointer, Mara scored on a dunk and a free throw, and Burnett added a dunk off a Mara assist to give Michigan a 59-49 lead with 13:20 remaining.

Oregon never recovered. The Ducks pulled within six points on multiple occasions but could not string together enough stops. Michigan answered every Oregon basket, often by attacking the paint, where they finished with 32 points. Morez Johnson of Riverdale, Illinois, provided a key spark off the bench with nine points and relentless energy on the glass.

Michigan’s ability to get to the free throw line proved decisive. The Wolverines attempted 30 free throws, making 22, compared to Oregon’s 16 attempts. In the second half, Michigan’s offensive rating of 113.7 on 71 possessions starkly contrasted with Oregon’s 99.2 on 72 possessions, underlining the efficiency gap after halftime.

For Oregon, Takai Simpkins of Brooklyn, New York, scored 12 points and Wei Lin of Xiamen, China, added 11 points and four assists, but the team shot just 42.2% from the field overall and was outscored by 11 in the second half.

Michigan, which entered as a 16.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, saw the total score of 152 land just under the over/under line of 152.5. Interstat’s ELO system had given the Wolverines a 75.4% probability to win.

The Wolverines will next host Indiana on Tuesday. Oregon is scheduled to host Michigan State, also on Tuesday.