Michigan vs. Iowa score: No. 3 Wolverines handle No. 9 Hawkeyes, pad lead in Big Ten race

Michigan stifled Iowa on offense while getting some great shooting nights on the perimeter

No. 3 Michigan strengthened its argument as a team worthy of grouping with No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 2 Baylor as it pulled away in the second half against No. 9 Iowa for a 79-57 win. 

Any doubts about how the Wolverines, now 17-1 on the season, might respond from their lengthy COVID-19 pause have been erased by a four-game winning streak that has included road wins against No. 21 Wisconsin and No. 4 Ohio State before Thursday's 22-point win against another top-10 foe. Michigan's win only further entrenches the potential of a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, inches the Wolverines closer to securing the Big Ten regular season title and adds to the argument for Juwan Howard as a conference and national Coach of the Year candidate. 

The matchup was hyped for the meeting of senior National Player of the Year frontrunner Luka Garza going head-to-head with Michigan freshman Hunter Dickinson, particularly after the 7-foot-1 center led the Wolverines with 16 of his 22 team-high points in the second half of the win at Ohio State. But early foul trouble for Dickinson limited his time on the floor, and Garza, while he finished with a team-high 16 points, never got into a rhythm and settled for his offensive production on 6-of-19 shooting. Some of that is a credit to Dickinson, who did a great job in the second half defending Garza without picking up a fourth foul, but it was a total team effort to limit the Iowa star's ability to take over the way he had the last two times he faced the Wolverines. 

What Michigan got in place of Dickinson's offensive production was a stellar game from Franz Wagner, who finished with a team-high 21 points on a very efficient 9-for-12 shooting night, and a strong performance from senior Isaiah Livers, who added 16 points with four 3-pointers. 

Here are three things to know about the win.

1. Hawkeyes took some lumps beyond the lop-sided victory. Starting forward Jack Nunge got tied up in the first half and suffered a leg injury that saw him limp off the floor and then return on crutches. Further testing will reveal the significance of the injury, but it was on the same leg as his ACL injury from a year ago and therefore comes with plenty of caution and concern. Additionally, starting guard Connor McCaffrey left the game after stepping on the foot of a Michigan player and apparently rolling his ankle. McCaffrey did not return to the game but did walk off the floor on his own power, and there was no immediate update on his status moving forward. On a night when Garza was struggling to get his and the deep-range combo of Jordan Bohannon and Joe Wieskamp cooled off after a hot start, the loss of two starters marks not only turning points in the game but potentially issues for the Hawkeyes moving forward. 

2. Wagner is an X-factor for the Wolverines down the stretch. With so much made of Dickinson's splash as a freshman, Livers' senior leadership and the boost this Michigan team has gotten from transfers in Mike Smith and Chaundee Brown, the impact of Wagner can sometimes fall below the fold. Far from a notable quip for familiar name and former Michigan star brother, Wagner is one of the top NBA prospects on this Michigan roster and seems to have a knack for stepping up when the team needs it most. He's got incredible court vision and playmaking ability for a 6-9 player and doesn't always have to score to have an impact. Against Ohio State, he was the only starter not to finish in double figures (though he did have six rebounds and four assists to go with nine points) and then on Thursday night he stepped up as the team's leading scorer with exactly the same usage rate in terms of percentage of possessions used. When Michigan can beat top-10 teams both with and without Wagner being a primary scoring threat, that proves versatility that is going to be a key to making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. 

3. Good trends going in reverse for Iowa. One of the common threads in Iowa's four-game winning streak prior to Thursday's loss was significantly better play on the defensive end. The Hawkeyes rank outside the top 70 on the season in defensive efficiency but held Rutgers, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Penn State all under 69 points and no one in that run had better than 1.02 points per possession. Michigan not only put up 79 points in the win, but did so at 1.18 points per possession and did most of that damage in the second half after a strong first half showing from the Hawkeyes defense. The aforementioned injuries clearly played a role in the personnel and Fran McCaffrey's rotations, but after a strong start limiting a fellow top-10 offense it cut both ways in the second half as the Hawkeyes couldn't get buckets or stops as Michigan turned a three-point game into a runaway win.    

[Feb 25, 2021 at 8:45 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

FRAN T'D UP

[Feb 25, 2021 at 8:41 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

9-0 run for Michigan
Iowa has missed its last six shots and not scored for 4:06 of game time

[Feb 25, 2021 at 8:35 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Franz Wagner has been absolutely tremendous. MVP of this game so far, running the fast break and leading the team in scoring

[Feb 25, 2021 at 8:25 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Michigan is COOKING

[Feb 25, 2021 at 8:18 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Iowa has done a good job of not allowing Livers and Michigan's other shooters to get going here tonight, but Wagner is a total X-factor

[Feb 25, 2021 at 8:16 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

McCaffrey appeared to have stepped on the foot of Austin Davis, he's up on his own power and jogging into the locker room. we'll see if he returns

[Feb 25, 2021 at 8:15 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Nunge went down first and now McCaffrey is down on the floor

[Feb 25, 2021 at 8:14 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Wagner takeover time!

[Feb 25, 2021 at 8:14 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Dickinson has gone to the bench with 3 fouls. he doesn't get in foul trouble often, averaging 2 fouls per game. very important stretch here for reserve big man Austin Davis

[Feb 25, 2021 at 8:12 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Garza starting to cook!

[Feb 25, 2021 at 8:12 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Jack Nunge will not return after suffering a leg injury in the first half. seen on the sideline on crutches, not good.

[Feb 25, 2021 at 8:10 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Iowa had 12 made baskets in the first half and only one (1) assist. lets see if they get better ball movement in the second half

[Feb 25, 2021 at 7:41 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Jordan Bohannon currently leading the way with 8 points, Luka Garza behind him with 7 for the Hawkeyes

[Feb 25, 2021 at 7:41 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Iowa on a quick 6-0 run to jump back in front