Freshman forward talks about the upcoming game against Michigan State and frustrating finish in Tuesday's 70-69 loss. James Hawkins, The Detroit News
Ann Arbor — Michigan had a chance to legitimize itself as a Big Ten contender and give its March resume a serious boost.
The opportunity slipped away in the final seconds against No. 5 Purdue.
Michigan rallied from a 14-point deficit only to have a critical turnover and foul lead to a tiebreaking free throw by Isaac Haas with four seconds left in a 70-69 loss Tuesday night at Crisler Center.
Zavier Simpson had 15 points and Charles Matthews added 14 but had a desperation 3-pointer rim out as time expired for Michigan (14-4, 3-2 Big Ten), which saw its seven-game winning streak end.
BOX SCORE: Purdue 70, Michigan 69
"That one hurts,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. “That was a great opportunity for us to beat a really good basketball team. You go from the height of emotions of having the ball with 25 seconds to go to having the ball out of bounds with five seconds to go and then not having the ball out of bounds and then have a foul. But it's part of the game and we have to learn from it and get better from it.
“We had a chance to win this game. We got ahead and then we couldn't get stops when we needed to. They made tough shots and we couldn't run some of the action that we wanted to run. It just blew up in our face and all of a sudden the shot clock is (winding down). Down the stretch, I wish we could've done better. We'll grow from it. I'll grow from it and be a better coach."
Purdue (16-2, 5-0) and Michigan traded shots over the final 10 minutes during a tight, back-and-forth second half until the game came to a standstill when Matthews was stripped by Dakota Mathias on a drive to the basket in the final seconds with the score tied at 69.
The ball was originally awarded to the Wolverines with 5.8 seconds left before Purdue coach Matt Painter asked the officials to review the play.
Michigan coach talks about his team's performance and the final minute of Tuesday's 70-69 loss. James Hawkins, The Detroit News
"They just said it hit (Matthews). I had no clue,” Painter said. “I'm so far away from it, but you're in that moment so you might as well and they'll go and look for it.
“We had to ask for it. They (officials) weren't going to but I was guessing.”
As it turned out, Painter guessed right. After a lengthy replay review, the officials concluded Matthews touched the ball last and Purdue was awarded possession with an adjusted 6.2 seconds left.
Beilein said he was told the ball went off Matthews’ hand but was irked by how long it took to overturn the original call.
"I asked them, ‘Why it was taking so long?’” Beilein said. “I said if it was taking so long then it must not be indisputable evidence. Charles said it didn't go off, but they said it did.”
Michigan had a foul to give and used it with 4.8 seconds remaining. With no timeouts left, the Boilermakers inbounded the ball from the sideline near their bench and threw it to Haas in the post.
Moritz Wagner reached over the back of Haas and knocked the ball away, but was whistled for a foul — much to the dismay of Wagner and the Crisler Center crowd.
“I'll wait to watch the video,” Beilein said. “If they're fouls that he knows he can't do — every game is a hard game to officiate. I'm not crazy about calls that can impact a game and could probably go without.
