Michigan basketball scores 100 points in season opener, wins Dusty May’s debut

ANN ARBOR – The Dusty May era began brilliantly on Monday evening. Michigan dominated Cleveland State from start to finish, winning 101-53 in the season opener and nearly setting a program record for hot shooting.

Final: 101-53

Record: 1:0

MVP: Danny Wolf (19 points, 13 rebounds)

Unsung Hero: Tre Donaldson (16 points, seven assists, no turnovers)

Archenemy: The only miss that cost Michigan a program record

Top highlight: Wolf takes the ball out of the net with 12:36 left in the first half and passes the ball to LJ Cason, who passes to Roddy Gayle Jr. without dribbling. Gayle takes two dribbles into the paint and dunks five seconds into the game, a great example of Michigan picking up the pace even after a shot at the basket.

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Michigan guard Rubin Jones was sidelined with an injury that did not appear to be serious. Nimari Burnett started in his place, an example of Michigan’s strength this season.

Michigan prevailed early against the Vikings and won comfortably. The lead was 10 midway through the first half and 28 at halftime thanks to an 18-2 run.

Michigan was a little sloppy after halftime, but otherwise excellent. A series of threes and dunks extended the lead to 46 with 7:34 left. Will Tschetter (15 points) shot through the air and scored a dunk he didn’t know he had, which made it 95:45.

Six Wolverines scored in double figures, including LJ Cason (14 points) and Sam Walters (10). Roddy Gayle Jr. scored 11 of his 13 points in the first half. Donaldson didn’t miss a shot in a brutally efficient performance.

Michigan shot 68.4 percent from the field, including 10 of 18 from 3. Michigan’s program record for field goal percentage in a game remains at 69.2, set against Alaska-Anchorage on December 30, 1986.

Believe it or not, the Wolverines got off to a slow start on offense but turned defense into offense. Four minutes later, two transition baskets gave the team an 8-2 lead. Tschetter’s 3 goals gave the team a 13:4 lead. Wolf stole a pass near the 3-point line and used it the other way for a breakaway slam that gave Michigan a 17-7 lead with 13:38 left in the half.

From then on, the lead fluctuated between eight and ten points for a while. Walters’ transition 3 made the score 35-21 with 7:34 left in the half. Michigan continued to roll, beating Cleveland State several times at the rim and creating good prospects at the other end. Cason’s strong push extended Michigan’s lead to 20. Wolf’s basket made it 24 as the Vikings’ drought continued.

Overall, it was an 18-2 run in which the Wolverines were in full control and didn’t let up. Gayle’s quick three-pointers in transition made it 52:24 just under a minute before the end of the half. Michigan led 54-26 at halftime.

In the final 2.5 minutes, Michigan left its bench empty. Harrison Hochberg scored two baskets. May’s son Charlie and Howard Eisley Jr., the son of a former Michigan assistant coach, were also on the floor, along with Jace Howard (Juwan Howard’s son). Justin Pippen (Scottie Pippen’s son) sat out with an injury.

The next game should be more difficult as Michigan travels to Greensboro, North Carolina on Sunday to face ACC opponent Wake Forest.

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