“I had some guys who stepped up,” head coach Tom Izzo said. “I played guys that haven’t played in a month. Playing those guys will help some, and some stepped up and showed a little more depth.”

Without senior forward Adreian Payne and junior forward Brandon Dawson, the team was left to fill an enormous hole left by the team’s two leading rebounders and two of the more efficient scorers.

Ellis played 11 minutes and scored a career-high 12 points, including a three-pointer with under a minute to play to shrink the lead to six.

He was perfect from the floor and the free throw line, and wasn’t afraid to guard the quick Wolverine guards tough.

“We were down two guys, and Keith wasn’t 100 percent healthy, so we needed to step up,” Ellis said. “I just had that confidence to come out and try to win the game. I knew how much it meant to the seniors and the juniors and everybody.”

Schilling played even less than Ellis, but made a big difference on the defensive end, getting two blocks and grabbing three rebounds.

Even Byrd, who has struggled to get consistent playing time, played 13 hard fought minutes.

He said the team was proud of how he and Ellis and Schilling stepped up, but the end of the game still leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.

“It’s kind of a bittersweet for guys like me and Alvin and Gavin,” Byrd said. “I’d have given everything to win that game. I don’t care if I had 8 turnovers and didn’t make a shot, that’s all that matters against Michigan.”

Izzo admitted after the game that he should’ve played Schilling more, but there wasn’t a lot of time in between the Dawson injury Thursday afternoon and the game Saturday.

Many of their efforts won’t show up in the box score, but without the work they put in, it could’ve been a lot more lopsided.

“I’m not proud because we came up short,” Ellis said. “We know we had the game. We know we’re going to play them again in the long run. We just gonna try to turn things around next time.”