In college basketball, no lead is safe.
Michigan led Indiana by as many as 22 points in the second half, but the Hoosiers didn’t quit and nearly pulled off a gigantic win, eventually losing 73-69 at Crisler Arena.
Tim Hardaway Jr. led the way with 26 points for the Wolverines (16-10, 6-7 Big Ten) who won for the fifth time in six games in a late season push to make the NCAA Tournament. But Hardaway, like his team, struggled mightily from the free throw line as Indiana nearly mounted a comeback.
Michigan, which shoots over 70 percent as a team from the line, shot just 19-of-37 on Saturday as Indiana (12-14, 3-10) nearly erased a large deficit.
Darius Morris added 15 points, six rebounds and five assists for Michigan, but was just 7-of-13 at the charity stripe. Hardaway was 4-of-9.
Four Hoosiers scored in double digits to led the second-half charge, led by Christian Watford’s 14 points.