INDIANAPOLIS – Michigan coach Juwan Howard was ejected midway through the second half after getting a shouting match with the Maryland bench, and the No.
4 Wolverines won 79-66 Friday to reach the Big Ten semifinals. Mike Smith scored 18 points and set a Big Ten Tournament record with 15 assists for top-seeded Michigan (20-3).
The Wolverines rallied from a 12-point first-half deficit and will next play either No. 9 Ohio State or No. 21 Purdue in Saturday’s first semifinal game.
Michigan swung the game by ending the first half on a 16-2 run and starting the second half on an 11-4 spurt. But during a timeout with 10:44 to go, Howard walked toward midcourt and shouted toward the Maryland bench.