DID YOU KNOW?: Goldin and Wolf Shine as No. 20 Michigan Edges Ohio State 86-83

In a thrilling Big Ten showdown, No. 20 Michigan held off Ohio State 86-83, with standout performances from center Vladislav Goldin and guard Jace Wolf leading the charge. The Wolverines secured a crucial conference victory, improving their record while continuing their push for postseason success.

Goldin and Wolf Take Charge
Goldin, the 7-foot transfer from Florida Atlantic, dominated the paint with a season-high 22 points and 11 rebounds, proving to be a force Ohio State struggled to contain. His ability to finish inside and protect the rim gave Michigan a key advantage throughout the game.

Wolf, meanwhile, put on a show from beyond the arc. The freshman sharpshooter nailed five three-pointers, finishing with 19 points and four assists. His clutch shooting, particularly in the second half, kept Michigan ahead whenever Ohio State threatened to take the lead.

“I just wanted to stay aggressive and take the shots when they came,” Wolf said postgame. “My teammates found me in good spots, and I was able to knock them down.”

A Back-and-Forth Battle
The game was a classic rivalry matchup, with both teams exchanging leads throughout. Michigan started strong, jumping out to a 10-point lead midway through the first half, fueled by Goldin’s interior presence and Wolf’s perimeter shooting. However, Ohio State responded with a 14-4 run to tie the game just before halftime, as Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle Jr. spearheaded the Buckeyes’ attack.

At the break, Michigan held a slim 41-39 lead, setting up an intense second half.

Second-Half Drama
The Wolverines came out firing after halftime, quickly extending their lead to eight points behind a pair of three-pointers from Wolf. But Ohio State refused to go away, with Thornton attacking the basket and stretching Michigan’s defense. The Buckeyes briefly took a 72-71 lead with four minutes remaining after a three from Gayle Jr., electrifying their fans.

Michigan responded immediately with a key sequence—Goldin scored on a putback dunk, Wolf drilled another three, and senior forward Terrance Williams II hit a mid-range jumper to put the Wolverines back in control.

Down 84-80 with under a minute left, Ohio State had one last chance. Thornton hit a contested three to cut the deficit to one, but Michigan sealed the win at the free-throw line, with Dug McDaniel calmly knocking down two clutch shots.

Coach Howard Praises Team Effort
Michigan head coach Juwan Howard praised his team’s resilience after the hard-fought victory.

“These guys fought for 40 minutes,” Howard said. “Goldin was a monster inside, and Wolf hit some huge shots. That’s what it takes to win tough games in this league.”

With the win, Michigan improves to 18-6 overall and 9-4 in Big Ten play, keeping them in contention for a high seed in the conference tournament. Ohio State, now 15-9, will need to bounce back quickly to solidify its NCAA Tournament hopes.

Looking Ahead
Michigan will now prepare for another tough test against No. 12 Illinois, while Ohio State looks to rebound against Indiana. If Goldin and Wolf continue their strong play, the Wolverines could be primed for a deep run in March.