By SAM LANCE
On back-to-back nights in the state of Michigan, a team has won at the buzzer. This time, it was Michigan senior guard Nimari Burnett who was the hero, sinking a 3-pointer to top Rutgers, 84-82.
MICHIGAN WINS IT AT THE BUZZER
#B1GMBBall x @umichbball pic.twitter.com/aMKUNQPZnR
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 28, 2025
This clutch shot was set up by quite the chess match between coaches. No. 15 Michigan called timeout with 3.3 seconds to draw up a play, only for Rutgers to counter with a timeout of its own after seeing the Wolverines setup. Rutgers then came out in a matchup zone to throw Michigan off, but Burnett buried the shot.
“We didn’t know if they’d be in man or zone,” Michigan head coach Dusty May said postgame. “That’s the risk of calling a timeout there. We wanted to try to get Danny [Wolf] a catch and Vlad [Goldin] was going to duck in. If it wasn’t there, the skip was going to be for Nimari as a last option. And he banged in a big one.”
Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell, normally mild-mannered, reacted with a series of F bombs during his radio interview.
“Just fucking devastated for our fucking guys,” he said. “… Come into this place, play them toe-to-toe the whole time, and then to lose on that play? Just … ugh.”
Steve Pikiell to Jerry Recco and Austin Johnson: “Just fucking devastated for our fucking guys. … Come into this place, play them toe-to-toe the whole time, and then to lose on that play? Just … ugh.” https://t.co/jdOfWj2VEC pic.twitter.com/EBpfvJaeMv
— Brian Fonseca (@briannnnf) February 28, 2025
Rutgers scored 57 points and shot 67% in the first half, but its offense stalled in the second frame with just 25 points on 25% shooting. This is a heartbreaker for the Scarlet Knights after leading for 26:25 of game clock. The Wolverines dominated the paint, scoring 48 points inside to Rutgers’ 34 and out-rebounding the Scarlet Knights 38-27.
Burnett not only hit the big shot, but finished with 20 points, second to Goldin with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman guard Dylan Harper led Rutgers with 17 points and Michigan native Tyson Acuff added 16 points for the Scarlet Knights.
Michigan improves to 22-6 and 14-3 in the Big 10 conference standings, tied with Michigan State atop the league. Rutgers falls to 14-15 and 7-11 in Big 10 play. The Scarlet Knights are still on the right side of the Big 10 tournament bubble, and grabbing this win would have almost solidified them into the field. Now, they’ll have to sweat it out a bit.
Last night, Michigan State senior guard Tre Holloman hit a buzzer beater from beyond half court, making this the second buzzer beater in as many days. March is approaching.
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