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Wolverines Advance In Big Ten Tournament

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Michigan guard Mike Smith (12) celebrates as Michigan took the lead at halftime in an NCAA college basketball game against Maryland at the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

 

Mike Smith scored 18 points and set a Big Ten Tournament record with 15 assists to help No. 4 Michigan rally from a 12-point first half deficit to defeat eighth-seeded Maryland 79-66.

The Wolverines reached Saturday’s semifinal despite the ejection of coach Juwan Howard with 10:44 to go. The conference’s regular-season champion will now face either No. 9 Ohio State or No. 21 Purdue.

Eric Ayala had 19 points and Darryl Morsell finished with 16 for the Terrapins. Michigan swung the game by ending the first half on a 16-2 run and starting the second half on an 11-4 spurt.