ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Eli Brooks scored 15 points and No. 20 Michigan overcame a sloppy performance to beat Tarleton State 65-54 on Wednesday.
Moussa Diabate and Caleb Houstan scored 14 points apiece for Michigan (4-2), which committed 20 turnovers. Hunter Dickinson added nine points and 10 rebounds.
Montre Gipson led Tarleton State (1-5) with 17 points and Tahj Small added 12.
The Wolverines had 11 turnovers in the first 15 minutes but reeled off 10 unanswered points late in the half to gain a 31-22 halftime advantage.
Michigan was clinging to a 55-52 lead with under four minutes left, but two free throws by Brooks and dunks by Dickinson and Diabate helped the Wolverines to stave off the Texans.
BIG PICTURE
The Texans, who became a Division I program last year, made some history by facing a Big Ten opponent for the first time in any sport. They were surprisingly competitive.
Michigan was seeking a confidence boost after losing two of its previous three games, including an 18-point defeat to Arizona on Sunday. The Wolverines instead showed vulnerability against a pressure defense.
UP NEXT
Tarleton State: The Texans face their biggest challenge of the season when they head to Spokane, Washington, to play No. 1 Gonzaga on Monday. They were scheduled to play Gonzaga last December, but the game was canceled due to COVID-19 issues for the Bulldogs.
Michigan: The Wolverines get a weeklong break before taking on North Carolina on Wednesday. Michigan won its last matchup with the Tar Heels, 73-64, in November 2019 at the Battle 4 Atlantis in The Bahamas.
