ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Olivier Nkamhoua had 17 points, nine rebounds and five assists and Michigan defeated Eastern Michigan 83-66 on Saturday as Wolverines coach Juwan Howard returned to his head coaching duties for the first time this season after having heart surgery in September.
Howard’s surgery on Sept. 15 resected an aortic aneurysm and repaired his aortic valve. He had been gradually working his way back to a full-time role while resting and rehabbing. Prior to Saturday’s game, Howard first returned to the bench as an observer for a Nov. 22 loss to Memphis. He served as an assistant to acting head coach Phil Martelli for a loss at Oregon on Dec. 2.
Michigan (6-5) hit 12 of 27 3-point attempts, shot 54% and led by double figures throughout the second half. Nkamhoua went over 500 career rebounds and also blocked two shots. Nimari Burnett added 14 points, Terrance Williams II 13 and Dug McDaniel 11. Travis Reed Jr., coming off the bench for the first time this season, had 13 points and eight rebounds.
Tyson Acuff, coming in scoring over 22 points per game, finished with 24 for the Eagles (5-5) but those came on 10-of-27 shooting and he missed all seven of his 3-point tries. Orlando Loyejoy added 16 points. The Eagles shot 40% and made just 2 of 15 from the arc.
A flurry of 3s gave Michigan a 10-point lead six minutes into the first half and the Wolverines led thereafter. Michigan was 8 of 17 from the arc with three apiece from Williams and McDaniel in the first half and led 49-32.
The Eagles got within 10 midway through the second half. But Tray Jackson hit a 3, and after Eastern Michigan’s Yusuf Jihad‘s dunk attempt went awry, Reed’s layup restored a 15-point lead. The Wolverines led by as many as 20 late.
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a release Friday night that a return to the program’s usual coaching structure came after a review of “an incident involving several individuals during a team practice last week” and “nothing was found to warrant disciplinary action for anyone involved.” No further details on the incident were provided in the release.
Michigan takes on Florida on Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the Jumpman Invitational.
Eastern Michigan is host to Hampton on Thursday.