The Sports Xchange
Dec 30, 2017
Senior guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman scored 20 points on 7-of-7 shooting from the field to lead Michigan to a 76-51 win over Jacksonville on Saturday at Ann Arbor, Mich.
It was the final non-conference game of the season for the Wolverines, winners of five straight. Michigan is now 12-3 entering the resumption of Big Ten Conference play at Iowa on Tuesday.
Junior guard Charles Matthews scored 18 points for Michigan, which welcomed back junior Moritz Wagner, who missed the last two games with an ankle injury. He scored seven points
Freshman guard JD Notae scored 22 points in defeat for Jacksonville (5-11).
The Dolphins, who were coming off an 81-60 win over Middle Georgia State on Thursday at home before traveling north, will return home to face Trinity Baptist on Tuesday.
Michigan struggled in the first half taking care of the ball, committing an uncharacteristic 10 turnovers, but still held a 32-18 lead at halftime.
In the second half, the Wolverines steadily built their lead, going up by as many as 27 late in the game.
Michigan shot 56.4 percent from the field (31 of 55) and Jacksonville shot 33.9 (20 of 59) percent.
The Wolverines are 1-1 in conference play heading into January, having beaten Indiana on Dec. 2 before losing at Ohio State on Dec. 4.