The first half of Penn State's Big Ten opener against Michigan in Ann Arbor was tough sledding for the Nittany Lions as they took a 36-22 deficit into the halftime break.
Nine first half turnovers and a 6-3 deficit on the offensive glass gave Michigan eight more shot attempts than Penn State in the first period. Factor in the Wolverines' shooting 43.8 percent to the Lions' 33.3 percent and a double-digit halftime spread was a near certainty.
Tim Hardaway Jr. led Michigan with 12 points in the first half on 6-10 shooting. Evan Smotrycz and Trey Burke weren't far behind with seven points each. Smotrycz also had a game-high seven rebounds.
Tim Frazier was Penn State's big scorer with 10 points to go with three rebounds and two assists. He also had three turnovers, though, so the first 20 minutes were hardly his best. Penn State's second-leading scorer, Jermaine Marshall, did not attempt a shot in the half and racked up three fouls.
Michigan enjoyed a +5 rebounding margin in the first half, pulling down 19 boards to Penn State's 15.
For an update on this game when it goes final, stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh.