Michigan falls to Memphis in Juwan Howard’s return to the bench

Juwan Howard returned to the Michigan men’s basketball bench on Wednesday and witnessed a frustrating loss up close.

The Wolverines fought back from a 16-point second-half deficit to get within one against Memphis in the Battle 4 Atlantis opener in the Bahamas, but couldn’t get the all-important go-ahead basket in a 71-67 loss.

Michigan will face the loser of Wednesday night’s game between No. 20 Arkansas and Stanford on Thursday at approximately 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday on ESPNU.

Howard, Michigan’s head coach who is recovering from offseason heart surgery, had been in the arena for Michigan’s previous games but not on the bench. He was there on Wednesday in the Imperial Ballroom on Paradise Island, sitting in the first seat of the first row, though the TV broadcast often showed him standing along with interim head coach Phil Martelli.

The Wolverines lost their second straight game and fell to 3-2 overall. They led Memphis 6-4 but not again. Down 16 with 16:46 left, Michigan made back-to-back 3s and started clawing back into the game.

The deficit was just one, 59-58, after Tray Jackson’s free throws with 4:12 left. Michigan got a stop and got two good shots at the basket but missed both. Memphis answered with a 3 to start an 8-0 run that appeared to seal the game, as Michigan went 5:23 without a made field goal.

Not so fast. Michigan forced a couple of turnovers and got within two on a Jackson corner 3 with 10 seconds left. Michigan’s trap on the ensuing inbounds didn’t work, and Memphis made two free throws with four seconds left to clinch the victory.

Olivier Nkamhoua led Michigan with 18 points but shot just 6 of 15 from the field and fouled out with 2:39 remaining. Nimari Burnett scored 16 on 6 of 12 shooting and added nine rebounds. Dug McDaniel had 15 points (5 of 15).

Memphis freshman Ashton Hardaway, the youngest son of head coach Penny Hardaway, led the Tigers with 17 points; he made five 3s.

Michigan finished with 18 turnovers and shot 11 of 17 from the foul line. Both teams shot 24 3-pointers; Memphis made 10 to Michigan’s eight.

Michigan trailed 37-25 at half. The Wolverines had more turnovers (13) than made field goals (11). Burnett had 13 in the half but Michigan shot just 38 percent, including 3 for 12 from deep.

Memphis improved to 4-0 and will face the Arkansas/Stanford winner on Thursday evening.