The Michigan Wolverines can now boast a 3-0 record to start their season and can officially look ahead to a tournament field that includes ranked teams like the Memphis Tigers, Duke Blue Devils and Kansas Jayhawks. Michigan came out with a win over the Western Illinois Learthernecks on Thursday night, taking home a very closely contested contest with a final score of 59-55.
Through one half, the game was tied at 28-28, with Michigan at one point holding an eight-point lead, but other than that, was very close. After Western Illinois came back to tie it at 18-all, the two teams exchanged baskets through the remainder of the half, and Michigan would even have went into halftime with a one-point deficit if not for a free throw attempt at the end of the first.
Ceola Clark III led the way with 21 points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal for the Leathernecks, going six for 12 and four for nine on his three-point attempts. Tim Hardaway Jr. finished with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists and went six for nine and one for four in three-point attempts.
Western Illinois falls to 0-2 to start their college basketball season, while 3-0 Michigan will go on to take on Memphis on Nov. 21.