During the first half of Monday’s Round of 32 clash, LSU had No. 1 seed Michigan on the ropes multiple times. But each time the 8th-seeded Tigers began to pull away, the Wolverines had an answer.
More often than not, it was senior guard Eli Brooks.
With Michigan trailing by eight after six minutes, a Brooks 3-pointer brought it back to a two-possession game. Less than four minutes later, he traded jumpers not once, but twice with Tigers’ star guard Javonte Smart, keeping the Wolverines within striking distance. And when Michigan went on a run just before the end of the half, it was Brooks who jump-started the 7-0 spurt with a layup.