It was a battle of attrition on Saturday afternoon.

Michigan won't win many games when they take 21 fewer field goal attempts than its opponent.

They won't win many games when they surrender 15 offensive rebounds or give up 17 turnovers.

On the flip side, though, Rutgers won't win many games when they shoot 33% from the floor,

or when they don't have Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey shoots three of 15 and only logs 10 points.

Rutgers won't win many either.

This was a defensive struggle, or really at times, an offensive struggle.

The struggle of both teams to get anything on the board,

but Michigan got just enough. Area 51 delivering down the stretch, combining for 30 of Michigan's

66 points, 20 of Michigan's 36 rebounds, and some key contributors with Michigan's rotations all out of whack.

Trey Donaldson battling foul trouble in the first half, a bum ankle for a brief stint in the

second half. Namari Burnett contending with foul issues pretty much the entire game.

But Sam Walters, Will Cheddar, Roddy Gale Jr., finding just enough.

Michigan for the better half of the last month has just been able to eke out wins.

12 of the Wolverines' first 13 victories came by 10 or more.

Their last three have come by 11 total.

The great thing about the Big 10 is you don't ask how they happened.

How much did you win by?

They ask how many wins did you get?

And through the halfway point of this Big Ten slate,

Michigan somehow some way finds itself at eight and two

and a winner on Saturday in Piscataway.

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