But Wisconsin’s shots stopped falling, and despite shooting just over 38-percent from the floor in the first half, and just 3-for-9 from beyond the 3-point line, the Wolverines kept clawing back.

Even with the slow start, a 7-0 run late in the half helped Michigan go into the locker room with a one-point lead after being down by as much as eight earlier in the stanza.

Neither team could pull away in the second half, though, as Wisconsin’s 3-pointers were matched with Michigan’s transition layups.

Michigan was led by Burke, who was the catalyst for pushing the ball against a team that wanted nothing to do with transition. He finished the game with a game-high 19 points, and tied a season-high with five rebounds. Burke needed 21 shots to score his 19 points, but was still vital to the game because he pushed the ball when the Wolverines needed it.

Again, the spark off the bench was McGary. The big man made multiple 18-footers, a range he hasn’t shown much this season, and finished with 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting. With regular starter Jordan Morgan still injured, and replacement starter Jon Horford ineffective for most of the contest, McGary provided stability in the post.

Horford started the game, but scored just two points in his seven minutes of play. Stepping up in his place was Bielfeldt, who played a career-high 18 minutes, often paired up with McGary.

“We said, ‘Max is doing it every day, let’s go give him a shot,’ ” Beilein said. “Everybody can’t be on the scout team, and he’s very good. I really love what Max did today.”

In the midst of a brutal stretch that has Michigan playing three ranked teams in eleven days — including three out of four games on the road — a win in Madison would have been huge. Instead, a 40-foot desperation shot has the Wolverines needing a big win in East Lansing on Tuesday night.