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Michigan Basketball Opens Exhibition Season With Convincing Win Over Eastern Michigan
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- Michigan Basketball Opens Exhibition Season With Convincing Win Over Eastern Michigan
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Michigan basketball began its exhibition schedule with an encouraging performance, defeating Eastern Michigan 87-62 behind a balanced offensive attack, efficient three-point shooting and a strong second-half effort.
The Wolverines took control early and never surrendered the lead, building a 39-28 advantage by halftime before extending the margin in the second half. Michigan shot 50% from the field and knocked down 12 of its 31 attempts from beyond the arc, giving it a productive starting point as it continues preparing for the regular season.
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Trey McKenney led the Wolverines with 21 points, shooting 8-for-13 from the field and 3-for-7 from three-point range. The guard also grabbed five rebounds and finished with one assist, providing Michigan with a consistent scoring presence throughout the exhibition.
JP Estrella also delivered an efficient performance, finishing with 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting. He connected on two of his three attempts from beyond the arc while adding four rebounds, one assist and one block in 20 minutes.
True freshman Quinn Costello provided another important scoring contribution off the bench, recording 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Costello was particularly effective from long distance, making four of his eight three-point attempts to help Michigan maintain its offensive rhythm.
The Wolverines' ability to spread the scoring across multiple players was one of the most encouraging aspects of the performance. Michigan had three players reach double figures in scoring, with Joseph Hartman adding 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting, including two three-pointers.
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Michigan finished with 87 points while shooting 12-for-31 from three-point range, good for 38.7%. The Wolverines also converted 15 of their 23 free-throw attempts, giving them additional opportunities to build their lead when Eastern Michigan struggled to keep pace.
Elliot Cadeau contributed 10 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, helping facilitate the offense while limiting himself to just three turnovers. His eight assists were a team high, highlighting his ability to create opportunities for teammates in addition to contributing as a scorer.
Moustapha Thiam added 11 points and five rebounds, giving Michigan another productive option inside. He shot 7-for-9 from the free-throw line and recorded four blocks.
Defensively, Michigan did enough to keep Eastern Michigan from mounting a serious challenge. The Eagles shot 51% from the field, but their struggles from the free-throw line proved costly. Eastern Michigan made just eight of its 19 attempts at the stripe and finished with only two three-pointers on 11 attempts.
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Mohammad Habhah led Eastern Michigan with 11 points, while Emanuel Richards and Kaden Johnson each scored nine. The Eagles managed just 62 points despite shooting 51% overall, in part because they struggled to generate consistent scoring opportunities from the perimeter and the free-throw line.
Michigan also held a significant advantage in several key statistical categories. The Wolverines scored 16 points off turnovers compared to four for Eastern Michigan and finished with an 11-4 advantage in second-chance points. Michigan outrebounded the Eagles 36-29 and received 29 points from its bench.
After leading by 11 at halftime, Michigan outscored Eastern Michigan 48-34 over the final 20 minutes to turn a competitive opening half into a comfortable victory. The Wolverines' biggest lead reached 27 points, demonstrating their ability to create separation as the game progressed.
While exhibition results do not carry the same weight as regular-season contests, Michigan's opening performance offered several positive takeaways. McKenney's scoring, Cadeau's playmaking and the contributions from Estrella and Costello gave the Wolverines multiple offensive options to build around.
With the regular season approaching, Michigan will look to build on that balanced effort, continue sharpening its defensive execution and establish greater consistency across the rotation.
