Zak Irvin scored 22 points, and Michigan scored the game's final 11 points to beat No. 18 Purdue 61-56 on Saturday.
The Wolverines (19-7, 9-4 Big Ten) overcame an awful stretch of shooting in the second half, rallying late behind Irvin and Derrick Walton. Irvin's jumper from near the free throw line put Michigan up 57-56 with just over a minute remaining, and it was Purdue (20-6, 8-5) that suddenly couldn't score down the stretch.
Caleb Swanigan missed from inside for the Boilermakers, and after Michigan's Mark Donnal missed a 3-point attempt, Purdue's Ryan Cline missed a 3 of his own.
Walton's two free throws with 15.8 seconds remaining made it 59-56, and with the Boilermakers trying for a quick two points, Vince Edwards missed.
Caris LeVert returned for Michigan after missing 11 games with a lower left leg injury. He went scoreless in 11 minutes.
Michigan endured a stretch of 2-for-20 shooting late in the second half, but the Boilermakers couldn't put the Wolverines away. Down 56-50, Michigan began its final surge when Irvin made a 3-pointer. Walton then made an acrobatic layup while being fouled. He missed the free throw, but the Wolverines took the lead soon after that.
Swanigan led Purdue with 14 points. The Boilermakers led 31-27 at halftime after being up by as many as 10 points in the first half.
TIP-INS
Purdue: The Boilermakers were outrebounded (39-35) for the first time all season. They were the only team in the country that hadn't been outrebounded.
Michigan: Coach John Beilein, his staff and the Michigan players wore special T-shirts on the sideline to help raise awareness for the Chad Tough Foundation. Chad Carr, the grandson of former Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr, died from brain cancer in November.
UP NEXT
Purdue: Hosts Northwestern on Tuesday night.
Michigan: At Ohio State on Tuesday night.
