No. 7 Michigan outlasts No. 19 Wisconsin 61-52

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan avenged its loss to Wisconsin last month — and coach John Beilein wants no part of a rubber match against the Badgers.

“Ethan Happ said to me after the game: ‘I hope to see you again this season,’” Beilein said. “No Ethan. I don’t want to see you again the rest of my life.”

Happ had 18 points and 11 rebounds for No. 19 Wisconsin, but Michigan’s Jon Teske more than held his own inside, and Charles Matthews scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half to lift the No. 7 Wolverines to a 61-52 victory Saturday. Teske had 17 points and 12 rebounds.

The Big Ten-leading Wolverines (22-2, 11-2) won despite going 0 for 10 from 3-point range in the second half. Michigan led 51-50 in a tight defensive struggle before pulling away with eight straight points.

The Badgers (17-7, 9-4) had their six-game winning streak snapped. That run began with a 64-54 winover then-undefeated Michigan last month.

“A little bit of a flip of the script, in terms of them making plays in the last two minutes,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said.

Happ had 26 points and 10 rebounds in the January meeting, and it looked like he was headed to a similar output. He dominated early and had 14 points by halftime, but the 7-foot-1 Teske began containing him, and Happ picked up a crucial third foul early in the second half.

“Just keep my motor running and try to deny his easy catches,” Teske said. “If he catches it on the post, it’s very easy for him to score there.”

Wisconsin hung around until late, but Matthews put Michigan up 55-50 with a shot from the baseline. He then beat the shot clock with another jumper, making it 57-50 with 23.8 seconds left.