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No. 2 Michigan now 17-0 after 80-60 win over Northwestern

North Carolina v Michigan

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 28: Jon Teske #15 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts to a three point shot made in the first half of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Crisler Center on November 28, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Jon Teske scored all 17 of his points in the first half, and No. 2 Michigan is now off to its best start in program history after an 80-60 victory over Northwestern on Sunday night.

The Wolverines (17-0, 6-0 Big Ten) started 16-0 on two previous occasions, but this season’s team surpassed that by routing Northwestern. Zavier Simpson scored a career-high 24 points for Michigan, and Teske matched his own career high in scoring.

The 7-foot-1 Teske made three 3-pointers, plus a couple more midrange shots. Simpson -- who entered the game shooting 29 percent from 3-point range -- connected five times from beyond the arc.

Northwestern (10-7, 1-5) was without leading scorer Vic Law, who was out with a lower-body injury. The Wildcats lost by two to the Wolverines last month -- one of only two Michigan games this season decided by single digits -- but this one was no contest.

Simpson’s hook shot off the glass gave the Wolverines an early 10-0 lead, and although Northwestern quickly battled back to within two, the game didn’t stay close for long. Michigan made 13 of its final 16 shots from the field in the first half and led 50-28 at halftime.

Dererk Pardon scored 20 points for Northwestern.

Michigan also started 16-0 in 1985-86 and 2012-13. The Wolverines have matched the longest winning streak in school history. They won 17 in a row in 1985 before losing in the NCAA Tournament.

Michigan and Virginia are the only unbeaten teams remaining in Division I.

BIG PICTURE

Northwestern: The Wildcats had a real chance to beat Michigan at home in December, but with Law out of action, they couldn’t keep it close Sunday and maybe shouldn’t have been expected to.

Michigan: The Wolverines have won 31 of their last 32 games, with the only loss coming to Villanova in last year’s national title game. They are a terrific defensive team, and they have plenty of ways to score as well. Michigan becomes even harder to beat when getting unexpected scoring from players like Teske and Simpson.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Top-ranked Duke won on a last-second shot Saturday, so Michigan will likely stay at No. 2.