ANN ARBOR, Michigan After undergoing heart surgery in September, Juwan Howard took on the role of coach for the first time. On Saturday, Michigan defeated Eastern Michigan 83-66 behind the 17 points and 9 rebounds of Olivier Nkamhoua.
“My health is adequate,” Howard remarked.
After examining an incident involving multiple people during a team practice last week, Howard will resume his head coaching duties, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel announced on Friday. Sources told ESPN’s Jeff Borzello that Howard got into a fight with strength and conditioning coach Jon Sanderson.
Several accounts claim that no punches were exchanged, but the two guys had to be separated.
“Based on a thorough internal review, nothing was found to warrant disciplinary action for anyone involved,” Manuel stated.
Sanderson’s status with the club is unknown despite missing two straight games due to injury.
“There’s still a review happening at this moment,” Howard stated.
On September 15, Howard underwent open heart surgery, which required a 15-day hospital stay. He had been taking it slow, returning to a full-time role while recuperating. Howard first returned to the bench as an observer for a Nov. 22 loss to Memphis, prior to Saturday’s game. On December 2, he assisted interim head coach Phil Martelli during a defeat against Oregon.
Against Eastern Michigan, Michigan (6-5) made 12 of their 27 3-point tries, shot 54% overall, and maintained a double-digit lead in the second half.
Nkamhoua recorded more than 500 career rebounds in addition to two shot blocks. Terrance Williams II scored thirteen points, Nimari Burnett added fourteen, and Dug McDaniel scored eleven. For the first time this season, Travis Reed Jr. recorded 13 points and eight rebounds after coming off the bench.
With a point average of more than 22 points per game, Tyson Acuff concluded with 24 points for the 5-5 Eagles. Despite being 10 of 27, Acuff failed all seven of his 3-point attempts. For the Eagles, who shot 40% and made only 2 of 15 from beyond the arc, Orlando Lovejoy contributed 16 points.
Six minutes into the first half, a barrage of three-pointers gave Michigan a 10-point lead. From that point on, the Wolverines led. In the first half, Michigan led 49–32 and was 8 of 17 from outside the arc, with three points apiece from Williams and McDaniel.
In the middle of the second half, the Eagles closed the gap to ten. However, Tray Jackson made a 3-pointer, and Reed’s layup gave Eastern Michigan back a 15-point advantage after Yusuf Jihad’s attempted slam went wrong. In the end, the Wolverines had a 20-point lead.In the Jumpman Invitational on Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, Michigan plays Florida.
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