MADISON -- The Michigan men's basketball team knows it goes as senior forward DeShawn Sims goes. With that in mind, the Wolverines made an effort to get the ball to Sims in the post early and often in the first half of tonight's game against Wisconsin.

Thanks in large part to Sims' 12 points and eight rebounds, Michigan took a 21-18 lead into halftime. The Wolverines had an 11-point lead with less than six minutes until halftime, but the Badgers went on an 8-0 run to close out the first half and make it a game.

During the first half, Michigan looked impressive on the boards, grabbing 19 rebounds to Wisconsin's 15, which is a promising sign for the Wolverines. The Badgers are one of the best defensive rebounding teams in the nation. Michigan's recently improved defense helped control the tempo of the game early, from the 3-point line to the paint, and that led to the Wolverines' early success. Well, that and Wisconsin's abysmal 1-10 shooting from 3-point range in the first half.

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