For much of the second half, Michigans offense had sputtered in the worst possible way. Isaiah Livers couldnt get anything going. Mike Smith didnt have a second-half point. 3-pointers werent falling, no matter how open they were.

And with just over two minutes left, the Wolverines offensive struggles had reached an apex. They hadnt scored for nearly three minutes, enabling Penn State to take a two-point lead on the back of an 8-0 run.

Then, suddenly, Michigan found its remedy in the form of Hunter Dickinson, who started his first career game after Austin Davis suffered a foot injury in the last game. The freshman center had 16 points to that point, eclipsing his season average of 14.8. But this was a unique moment in Dickinsons nascent college career. Even in the Wolverines overtime win over Oakland, they were never down this late, never with their backs this far against the wall.

Dickinson paid no mind. As Smith drove to the hoop, Dickinson cut alongside him, positioning himself to receive Smiths feed for a two-handed slam. With the score knotted a possession later, he received another pass from Smith. This time, Penn States Izaiah Brockington was draped all over him, forcing Dickinson to make a spinning finish through traffic.

For Michigan, the basket would provide the ultimate difference in a 62-58 win. For Dickinson, it was a culmination of everything hes prepared for since arriving in Ann Arbor.

You can join UM Hoops for a discounted rate of $3 per month with promo code JOIN and unlock exclusive content. Sign up today for coverage throughout the season.

Join Today

Join the UM Hoops community today and access our exclusive content.

Subscribe Today

Already a UM Hoops member? Sign in below

Read more:

In narrow win, Michigan reaps the rewards of Dickinson's progress - UM Hoops