‘Area 50-1′ powers Michigan basketball to 6th consecutive victory as Wolverines remain atop Big Ten

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Michigan Wolverines sit atop the Big Ten after taking down the Ohio State Buckeyes 86-83 on the road inside the Value City Arena for their sixth consecutive victory.

The Wolverines entered Sunday (Feb. 16) in a hostile environment with a lot to play for, including staying in the conference’s top spot and extending their winning streak. However, they had to protect guard Roddy Gayle, Jr.

--> Star guard braces for jeers in Ohio State return as Michigan basketball aims to stay atop Big Ten

After spending two years with the Buckeyes basketball program, Wolverines guard Gayle, Jr. entered the transfer portal at the end of the 2023-24 season.

After meeting with possible suitors, Gayle, Jr. picked the men in maize, who won a dogfight as he notched nine points, eight rebounds, and two assists while being jeered every time he touched the ball in his lone return to Columbus.

But he had backup as “Area 50-1″ big men Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf put the team on their backs to help Michigan improve 9-4 in games decided by five or fewer points while advancing to 20-5 on the season.

Area 51 is a large property known as the Nevada Test and Training Range, where nuclear bombs are tested. The Wolverines’ “Twin Towers” definitely dropped bombs in Columbus, as they combined for 37 points in the victory.

Goldin got the ball rolling early, scoring 12 points, grabbing three rebounds, and making one assist to help the Wolverines take a 44-39 lead into the half. He finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, his third double-double of the year.

Wolf, on the other hand, finished the first half with two points as he dealt with foul trouble early. But during “money time,” he finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, scoring 15 down the stretch for his 11th double-double of the season.

With the victory, Michigan improved to 9-3, dating back to 2021, when its basketball and football programs beat Ohio State.

What’s next

The Wolverines return home to host the Michigan State Spartans on Feb. 21 inside Crisler Center, where they’re 12-0 for the first time in program history.

The Spartans host the Purdue Boilermakers on Tuesday, Feb. 18. As all three teams are in the running for the conference title, Friday’s matchup could be a knockdown drag-out battle.

“We’re going to get a lot of vitriol. There’s nothing that makes Ohio State more angry than us dusting that stuff off. Nothing makes them angrier. When they’re doing all that stuff to us, man, we ain’t into that. We’re chasing something bigger,” said Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May.