Recap: Michigan upsets Tennessee, makes fifth-straight Sweet 16

UM ADVANCES TO SWEET 16

Make it five straight Sweet 16 appearances for Michigan.

Led by Hunter Dickinson (27 points) and Eli Brooks (23 points), the Wolverines upset the Volunteers, 76-68, tonight in Indianapolis. Brooks hit a nifty floater with 53 seconds left to put Michigan up, 70-66, and the Wolverines handled the free throws down the stretch.

Michigan (19-14) will next play either No. 2 Villanova or No. 7 Ohio State.

It was the first time the Wolverines won consecutive games in more than a month, and they can thank their second-half defense for that. They held the Volunteers to just five points in an eight-minute-plus stretch, Tennessee shooting just 2-for-18 from 3-point range.

Moussa Diabate added 13 points for Michigan, and Terrance Williams II had nine points, including two huge tip-ins off Wolverines' misses.

Kennedy Chandler had 19 points for Tennessee (27-8), and Josiah-Jordan James had 13.

Michigan played the second half without DeVante' Jones, who returned to action after missing the first-round win over Colorado State with a concussion but hit his head on the court in the opening half. He had two points, three rebounds and three assists.

Be sure to check back with detroitnews.com throughout the day for complete coverage from beat writer James Hawkins and columnist Bob Wojnowski.

MICHIGAN TAKES LATE LEAD

Eli Brooks is trying to will Michigan into the Sweet 16.

Brooks now has 18 points, including a quick drive from halfcourt to the lane to give Michigan a 64-62 heading to the under-4 timeout (he has a free throw coming up, too).

Also, hat tip to Terrance Williams II, who made two fantastic plays for Michigan — tipping in a pair of missed shots by the Wolverines, one on a 3 by Frankie Collins and another on a layup but Hunter Dickinson, as Michigan can start to smell a victory over third-seeded Tennessee.

Tennessee has gone ice cold from 3, at just 2-for-15 for the game.

Kennedy Chandler has 17 for the Volunteers and will be the difference for the Volunteers today.

BACK AND FORTH WE GO

There have been so many good games so far in the NCAA Tournament, and we have another gem here.

Halfway through the second half, No. 3 Tennessee leads No. 11 Michigan, 57-54, put ahead by Kennedy Chandler's driving layup. Chandler has 15 points on 7-for-11 shooting for Tennessee.

Hunter Dickinson leads all scorers with 24 points on 8-for-11 shooting, including 3-for-5 on 3-pointers for Michigan. He was on the bike behind the bench before returning and making the first shot he took, a 3.

Dickinson then had a block on the other end, leading to a Tennessee turnover.

Keep an eye on Michigan's Eli Brooks. He had a couple buckets in that stretch, including a jumper and a driving layup. He's got 12 points and appears to be feeling it as the game nears crunch time.

The game has seen 11 lead changes and four ties, and we've probably not seen the last of those.

Michigan is seeking a fifth straight trip to the Sweet 16.

DICKINSON COMES OUT FIRING

Michigan's game plan is pretty clear for the second half: Get Hunter Dickinson into the paint.

Dickinson, who fired several 3-pointers in the first half (and made two), is making his presence felt inside early in the second half. He had two quick buckets inside, including an and-one which he capped off by making the free throw.

The Wolverines have pulled within a point, 45-44, of the Volunteers at the under-16 media timeout. Eli Brooks made a 3 to make it 45-44, with Frankie Collins finding him with a crisp pass.

Moussa Diabate is going to the free-throw line after the break.

MICHIGAN LIMPS INTO HALFTIME

Not the close to the half Michigan was looking for, to be sure.

Tennessee took the lead with about 3 minutes left in the opening half and hasn't look back. The Volunteers are up, 37-32, at halftime. It's their largest lead of the game.

Michigan did itself no favors during Tennessee's run, committing turnovers on three consecutive possessions (DaVante' Jones, Eli Brooks, Hunter Dickinson). For the game, Michigan has made nine turnovers.

Tennessee 7-footer Uros Plavsix from Serbia threw down a dunk and was fouled. He made the free throw to make it 37-32 with under a minute remaining.

Before that, Santiago Vescovi made a 3 to make it 34-32. He had missed an open look on the previous possession.

Here are your leaders at the half: Michigan — Dickinson 12 points; Moussa Diabate 4 rebounds, 2 blocks; Jones, Brooks 3 assists. Tennessee — Josiah-Jordan James 10 points; Plavsic 7 rebounds, 2 steals; Kennedy Chandler, 7 assists. 

TENNESSEE RALLIES BACK

Michigan looked like it might be putting a little space between itself and Tennessee, stretching the lead to 28-22 on a Frankie Collins reverse layup, a Tennessee turnover and a Moussa Diabate basket.

Diabete then made a bucket to make it 30-24, but missed his free throw. 

Tennessee's Josiah-Jordan James made two free throws, Michigan turned it over on the inbounds pass, and after a miss by James from 3, James collected it and found Kennedy Chandler across the court. He buried the 3-pointer to make it 30-29.

At the under-4 media timeout, Tennessee is 1-for-5 on 3's; the Volunteers made 14 in their opening-round win over Longwood.

PACE ISN'T SLOWING DOWN

We've got a good one here in the South Region, Michigan vs. Tennessee.

First thing's first, grad-transfer guard DeVante' Jones is back on the court for the Wolverines, after heading to the locker room with a right wrist injury. He's sharing a backcourt with freshman guard Frankie Collins.

That will be something to keep an eye on, as Jones was off to a hot start with three rebounds and a basket before committing the turnover on which he appeared to hurt the wrist.

Meanwhile, the pace hasn't slowed down in Indianapolis, with Michigan up, 22-20, at the under-8 timeout. Tennessee tied it at 20 before Jones attacked the paint and dumped off to freshman forward Moussa Diabate, who laid it in for the easy bucket.

On the previous possession, Michigan took advantage of a second chance (and a second straight missed 3 by Hunter Dickinson), with sophomore forward Terrance Williams II burying the 3.

JONES MIGHT BE OUT AGAIN

What a frustrating week for Michigan grad-transfer guard DeVante' Jones.

Jones rejoined the team Friday for practice in Indianapolis after missing Thursday's win over Colorado State with a concussion. He had a quick start to today's game against Tennessee, with three rebounds and an early bucket as Michigan took the 10-2 lead. 

But Jones committed a turnover, and might've injured his right wrist on the play. He was taken to the locker room at the under-16 media timeout, replaced on the floor by freshman guard Frankie Collins.

Collins committed just one turnover Thursday as Jones' replacement.

Stay tuned for news on Jones, who returned to the bench with that wrist taped, but hasn't played since.

Michigan leads 17-12 at the under-12 timeout, with Tennessee going to the line. Hunter Dickinson has made of his 3-point attempts.

MICHIGAN COMES OUT FAST

Michigan came out on a hot start, taking an early 10-2 lead, thanks to some fine play by grad-transfer guard DeVante' Jones, who in his first game back from a concussion had an early bucket and three rebounds.

Freshman forward Moussa Diabete was everywhere early, with a basket, block and rebound in the first four minutes as No. 11 Michigan took it right to No. 3 Tennessee.

But the Volunteers bounced right back, with six straight points to make it 10-8 at the first media timeout (with Michigan's Hunter Dickinson heading to the line). Junior guard Josiah-Jordan James was 3-for-3 early on field-goal attempts.

Buckle up. This has the makings of a good one here.

JONES BACK FOR MICHIGAN

Michigan will be at full strength as it looks to continue its season.

Grad-transfer guard DeVante' Jones is back in the lineup today for the Wolverines, after missing the opening win over Colorado State after suffering a concussion in practice last week.

Jones averages nearly five assists a game for Michigan, which is looking to make the Sweet 16 for the fifth consecutive tournament, second under Juwan Howard.

Jones wasted no time making an impact, with a quick bucket to give the Wolverines an early 8-2 lead.

FOLLOW ALONG FOR LIVE UPDATES

This might be a good time for Michigan to shake a troubling trend.

Michigan (18-14) alternated wins and losses in their last 11 games entering Saturday's second-round NCAA Tournament game against Tennessee in Indianapolis. Coming off a comeback victory over Colorado State in its first-round game, the No. 11 seed Wolverines are seeking their first back-to-back victories since Jan. 26 and, more importantly, a berth in the Sweet Sixteen.

It won't come easy.

The third-seeded Volunteers (27-7) entered the tournament among the hottest teams in the country, winners of eight in a row after an 88-56 victory over Longwood in their tournament opener, and 13 of their last 14.

Michigan could get a boost if DeVante' Jones returns to action. He missed the Colorado State game with a concussion, and coach Juwan Howard said the point guard is a "game-time decision" for Saturday.

Follow along here for live updates from Tony Paul of The Detroit News.

NCAA Tournament

No. 11 Michigan vs. No. 3 Tennessee

►Tip-off: 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

►TV/radio: CBS/950

►Records: Michigan 18-14, Tennessee 27-7

►Outlook: This is the third meeting between the teams in the NCAA Tournament and Michigan won both matchups — in 2011 and 2014. … Tennessee has won eight straight and 13 of its past 14 games, including an 88-56 win over Longwood on Thursday in the first round. …The winner will move on to San Antonio and face the winner of No. 2 Villanova-No. 7 Ohio State in the Sweet 16.