The ACC/Big Ten Challenge has had its share of entertaining games and memorable moments over the past two decades.
With the curtains closing on the interconference series after this season, the Wolverines looked like they were on their way to writing a fitting final chapter.
Michigan center Hunter Dickinson (1) looks to the basket past Virginia forward Kadin Shedrick (21) in the first half.
Instead, Michigan let an 11-point lead slip away and stumbled in the final minute to kick off a critical week with a crushing 70-68 loss to No. 3 Virginia on Tuesday night at Crisler Center.
Junior center Hunter Dickinson had 23 points and seven rebounds for Michigan (5-2), which shot 53.1% from the field (26-for-49) but was held to 23 second-half points. Freshman wing Jett Howard scored 15 and couldn’t get off a contested 3-point shot at the buzzer, while sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin added 11 points.
Reece Beekman scored 18, Kihei Clark 16, Kadin Shedrick 12, Jayden Gardner 12 and Ben Vander Plas 10 for Virginia (6-0), which shot 50.9% from the field (27-for-53) and held Michigan to two made shots over the final 10 minutes.