No. 3 Michigan outlasts Arkansas to remain unbeaten

• Michigan improves to 9-0, their best start since 1989

Sometimes it takes one and sometimes it takes a team.

On Saturday against Arkansas, No. 3 Michigan stepped away from its recent formula where one player carried the load.

Instead the Wolverines (9-0) kept their cool and spread the ball around, with five players in double figures as they kept their undefeated season alive, holding off Arkansas, 80-67, at Crisler Center.

Led by Glenn Robinson III with 17 points and Trey Burke with 16, plus center Jordan Morgan with 12 points and 10 rebounds, Michigan earned the win despite allowing Arkansas to shoot 59% from the three-point line.

It was U-M coach John Beilein's 100th victory at Michigan.

Though the Crisler crowd wasn't complaining, Michigan put the game away with 3:52 when Trey Burke benefited from a terrible call.

The shot clock was winding down when Burke airballed a three from the top of the circle. Yet the officials called a foul, giving Burke threee free throws. That took U-M's lead from seven to nine, making the Arkansas comeback tough, even with its up-tempo offense.

Arkansas (4-4) kept coming, getting within one with nine minutes left but never could grab the lead.

After controlling the first half, Michigan struggled after halftime, missing it first eight shots and letting the lead dwindle to just two points.

Then Michigan stars Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. sensed the moment as Burke had a darting layup and a defensive block, then Hardaway hit a three and took a charge.

Despite Arkansas hitting 5 of its first 6 shots, the Wolverines locked down on defense, holding the Razorbacks to just 30% from the rest of the half.

Michigan pushed the lead out to 13 points by controlling the boards – U-M had more defensive rebounds (13) than Arkansas had (12) by the break – and got a big first half from center Jordan Morgan, who had 10 points and five rebounds.

With the Wolverines shooting over 50% in the first half, they were able to hold a 10-points halftime lead at 42-32.

Mark Snyder writes for the Detroit Free Press