INDIANAPOLIS (Mar. 15, 2014) — For the first time since the inaugural Big Ten tournament in 1998, the Michigan Wolverines are heading to the championship game.
Michigan defeated Ohio State 72-69 in the first game of the Big Ten semifinals. The Wolverines will take on the winner of the Michigan State-Wisconsin game on Sunday.
Michigan led by as many as 16 in the first half, but led by only four at the break. Ohio State took its first lead of the game with just under eight minutes left in the 2nd half on a Sam Thompson dunk to make it 61-60.
Michigan would take the lead for good on a couple of Glenn Robinson III free throws that made it 69-68 Michigan. Ohio State had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but Aaron Craft lost the ball to Nik Stauskas to end the game.
Stauskas led the Wolverines with 18 points, while Caris LeVert added 17 and a team-high eight rebounds. Ohio State was led by LaQuinton Ross who had 19.
Michigan won the inaugural Big Ten tournament in 1998 but later vacated the title due to NCAA sanctions.
