Charlotte, N.C. – Before heading into the holiday break, the Wolverines were hoping to scratch off an item on their Christmas wish list: A notable nonconference win.
They came close twice in narrow losses to Virginia in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and Kentucky in the Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase.
Michigan came up short once again as its late push fizzled and it fell to North Carolina, 80-76, in the inaugural Jumpman Invitational on Wednesday at the Spectrum Center.
Sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin scored 22 and freshman wing Jett Howard add 17 points for Michigan (7-4), which trailed by two with two in the final two minutes but couldn’t get the stops it needed down the stretch.