Michigan battles NJIT in Ann Arbor Saturday

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan looks to continue its winning ways when it hosts NJIT on Saturday. The No. 16 Wolverines have won six of their first seven games - including a 68-65 victory over Syracuse on Tuesday as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge - and are undefeated at Crisler Center this season. "December wins are really good for your resume later on," coach John Beilein told reporters. "We have another game on Saturday and we'll see what we can do."
Michigan has won 26 of its last 27 non-conference home games - with its only loss coming to then-No. 1 Arizona on Dec. 14, 2013. The Wolverines have been winning with defense, holding every opponent to 68 points or fewer as they work out the kinks on the offense end after failing to shoot better than 50 percent from the floor in three of their last four games. NJIT is coming off a hard-fought 71-67 loss to UMass Lowell and hopes to pull off an improbable result in its first meeting with a ranked opponent this season.
TV: Noon, ET, Big Ten Network
ABOUT NJIT (2-5): Damon Lynn scored a game-high 24 points - including six 3-pointers - against UMass Lowell and has poured in 20 or more points in four of his last five games. Ky Howard leads the Highlanders in rebounding (7.3) and grabbed eight boards versus UMass Lowell after finishing with a season-low two in his previous game. Lynn was named the NJIT Male Athlete of the Week after averaging 20 points, five assists and 3.5 steals against Marquette and Duquesne.
ABOUT MICHIGAN (6-1): Zak Irvin - who tops the team in scoring with 17.7 points per game - tallied a game-high 18 to lead five players in double figures against Syracuse. Spike Albrecht scored 11 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer late in the second half, and dished out a career-high nine assists on Tuesday to give him 16 assists and no turnovers in his last two outings. Derrick Walton Jr. returned from a one-game absence due to a toe injury, but was limited to three points on 1-of-7 shooting.
TIP-INS
1. Michigan has won 49 of its last 53 games at Crisler Center.
2. The Wolverines have committed fewer than 10 turnovers in four of their first seven games.
3. Irvin has finished in double figures in every outing this season.