Indiana’s Heart-Stopping 3/4-Court Buzzer-Beater: A Tough 70-67 Loss to Michigan

What a game! On Saturday, Indiana faced No. 24 Michigan at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. The final score was 70-67, but the real buzz came from a last-second shot by Indiana’s Anthony Leal. He made a crazy 3/4-court shot as time expired. While it didn’t change the outcome, it did impact the point spread, giving Indiana a late cover and leaving some Michigan bettors feeling frustrated.

Michigan had been leading 70-64 when Danny Wolf sunk two free throws just two seconds before the buzzer. Despite the disappointing finish for Indiana, the win was significant for Michigan, ending their two-game road losing streak. With this victory, Michigan improved to 10-2 in the Big Ten, sitting nicely in second place alongside Michigan State, just behind Purdue.

Wolf stood out in the game, scoring 20 points, pulling down nine rebounds, and dishing out five assists. Teammates Vladislav Goldin and Tre Donaldson also provided key contributions, each adding 18 points. This win marked Michigan’s fourth consecutive victory, lifting their overall record to 18-5.

This matchup was particularly poignant for Indiana as it was their first game since announcing that head coach Mike Woodson would step down at the season’s end. Meanwhile, Michigan’s coach, Dusty May, has deep ties to Indiana. May is a graduate of the university and was a student manager under the legendary coach Bob Knight. He even resides in Bloomington today, which added an interesting layer to the game.

Some Indiana fans had hoped May would take over as head coach. However, after accepting a five-year deal at Michigan, that possibility became less likely. There’s also speculation about Indiana having a way to navigate May’s $4 million buyout, which has been lowered from $5 million after the season.

After the game, May expressed his love for Michigan and its team, emphasizing his commitment to winning at his new school. Despite the loss, Indiana fans gave May a warm reception during pregame introductions, perhaps even more enthusiastic than Woodson received.

Although Michigan celebrated a solid win, Indiana’s recent struggles continued as they faced their fifth straight loss. Still, Leal’s buzzer-beater provided a silver lining for some Hoosiers fans and bettors alike.