L.J. Cason scored 14 points and No. 2 Michigan held on to beat Penn State 74-72 on Tuesday night.
Nimari Burnett and Trey McKenney had 12 points each and Yaxel Lendeborg added 10 for the Wolverines (14-0, 4-0 Big Ten), off to their best start since opening the 2018-19 season 17-0.
Michigan, which led by 15 with 10:41 left, had to survive a late Penn State push that fell short when Freddie Dilione’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the rim.
Playing in the Bryce Jordan Center for the first time in nearly three years, the Wolverines got an opening layup from Lendeborg, one of just three makes for Michigan in the first four minutes.
Meanwhile, Penn State (9-6, 0-4) fed on three turnovers to push its lead to 12-6 with 15:16 to play in the half. Ivan Juric notched nine of the Nittany Lions’ first 12.
Moments later, Lendeborg, who was questionable to play after leaving the team’s last game against USC with a calf injury, sparked an 11-0 Wolverine run with a layup.
[Related: 4 Takeaways from No. 2 Michigan’s win over USC]
It coincided with a 1-for-14 taking pictures stretch from the Nittany Lions.
Elliot Cadeau, McKenney and Cason hit 3-pointers over the ultimate 5 minutes of the primary and the Wolverines pushed their result in 40-31 at halftime.
McKenney, who was 5 for 7 from the ground, hit back-to-back jumpers together with a 3 to offer Michigan a 15-point lead.
Juric led the Nittany Lions with 20 factors. Earlier than selecting up his fourth foul with 5:48 left, Juric went 4 for 4 from the foul line and hit his second 3-pointer of the sport throughout an 11-0 run that reduce Michigan’s result in three with 7:13 left.
A pair of free throws by Eli Rice free throws reduce Michigan’s result in 73-72 with 1:04 to play.
Dilione completed with 17 factors.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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