CHICAGO (Interstat) — In a tense, physical clash that underscored the intensity of the Big Ten, the Michigan Wolverines held off a persistent Ohio State Buckeyes squad for a 71-67 victory in a conference tournament semifinal on Friday afternoon at the United Center.

The win, Michigan’s third over their rival this season, advanced the Wolverines to the championship game and improved their formidable record to 30-2. Ohio State, which had won four straight entering the contest, concluded its season at 21-12.

The game was ultimately decided by Michigan’s superior efficiency in converting Ohio State’s mistakes into points and a dominant performance in transition. The Wolverines scored 19 points off 10 Buckeye turnovers and outscored Ohio State 22-6 on fast breaks. Despite shooting a nearly identical percentage from the field, Michigan’s 105.3 offensive rating on 67 possessions outpaced Ohio State’s 99.2 rating on 68 trips, illustrating the critical difference in the four-point outcome.

Michigan established control early, bursting to a 13-4 lead behind the interior play of Morez Johnson and the facilitating of Yaxel Lendeborg. The Wolverines led by as many as 11 in the first half and took a 39-35 advantage into halftime, though Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton kept the Buckeyes within striking distance with 12 first-half points.

The second half followed a similar pattern of Michigan building a cushion and Ohio State clawing back. Every time the Buckeyes threatened, the Wolverines had an answer, often from 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara. The sophomore from Spain, named the game’s top star, delivered a crucial and efficient performance with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, seven rebounds and two blocks in 28 minutes. His presence altered countless shots in the paint, where Michigan held a 34-28 scoring edge.

Thornton was brilliant in defeat for Ohio State, scoring a game-high 22 points and adding four assists in 38 minutes. Devin Royal recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while John Mobley added 12 points. The Buckeyes fought to within a single possession on multiple occasions in the final minutes but could never secure the lead or a tying basket.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final 90 seconds with Michigan clinging to a 67-65 lead. After an Ohio State timeout, Thornton missed a driving layup with 1:04 remaining. Michigan worked the clock on the ensuing possession, and Mara sealed his standout afternoon by receiving a pass from Elliot Cadeau and scoring a tough layup over a defender with 56 seconds left, pushing the lead to 69-65.

Ohio State’s next trip ended with a blocked three-point attempt by Devin Royal, and Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau hit two critical free throws with 20 seconds left to extend the lead to 71-65, effectively sealing the victory. A last-second bucket by Royal accounted for the final margin.

Michigan’s balance was key. Alongside Mara, Elliot Cadeau directed the offense with 15 points and seven assists. Trey McKenney provided 12 points off the bench, and Morez Johnson finished with 11 points and seven rebounds. The Wolverines’ defense was active, tallying seven steals and six blocks.

The game was a stark contrast to Michigan’s 21-point win in Columbus in February, showcasing Ohio State’s significant improvement and resilience. However, the Wolverines’ poise in critical moments and their ability to generate easy baskets from their defense proved insurmountable.

Michigan now moves on to face the winner of the other semifinal for the Big Ten tournament title.