LONDON (Michigan News Source) – Playing in their first-ever regular season game in Europe in the Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase, Michigan’s late push for the lead in the game came up short to #19 Kentucky, 73-69. Michigan is now 5-3 on the year and lost their last two games to ranked opponents in #3 Virginia, 70-68, and #19 Kentucky.

“I think it was probably decided on just a couple of possessions that didn’t go our way, a couple possessions that weren’t locked in and they capitalized on it and I think that was probably the difference. We were right there the entire game as it was neck and neck and unfortunately it didn’t bounce our way a couple of times,” said Hunter Dickinson.

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Dickinson led the team with 23 points and nine rebounds adding three blocks. Jett Howard then had 16 points and Kobe Bufkin 11 points. Michigan only shot 39 percent from the floor, 40 percent from the arc, and 64 percent (11-of-17) from the stripe. Kentucky made 46 percent of their shots including going 9-of-15 (60 percent) from the three-point line.

Isaiah Barnes said about the game, “We had a great week of practice but just came up short. I feel like we still need to point out the good things but we have to lock back in and see how we can close out these close games. We have proven we are up there with the best teams in the country but we have to pull them out.”

Both teams battled back and forth as Michigan had a five-point lead, 34-29, with 3:41 left in the first half. Kentucky finished that final three minutes on an 8-2 run to take a 37-36 lead going into the locker room.

With 1:40 to go in the game, Dickinson hit a layup to cut the lead to two, 68-66. Dickinson then blocked a shot on Kentucky’s next possession but the Wildcats kept it and scored five seconds after that to make it 71-66. A missed three-pointer and layup on Michigan’s next chance to cut the lead led to a Howard foul and two free throws for Kentucky. They made both of them with 28 seconds left to make it 73-66.

Michigan missed another three-pointer and stopped the clock with a foul but Kentucky missed the free throw. With six seconds left, Howard swooshed a three-pointer to come within four, 73-69, but that is as close as the Wolverines would come.

Michigan opens Big Ten play on Thursday at Minnesota.