Michigan basketball coach John Beilein couldn’t have predicted this.

With players looking forward to a short holiday break, the Wolverines could have been distracted during Thursday night's game at Crisler Arena. Instead, they played perhaps their most focused game of the season in an 87-71 win over Bryant.

Michigan had 21 assists and just three turnovers, a 7-to-1 ratio.

“You’re focused if you only have three turnovers a game,” Beilein said. “I don’t care who you’re playing. They dared us to shoot and we did.”

It was even more important during a game where both teams were making 3-pointers at an eye-popping rate. Combined, Michigan and Bryant made 29 of 57 from beyond the 3-point line.

Considering the way Bryant made 3-pointers (13 of 25), Beilein even admitted to worrying a little about what would happen if the Wolverines stopped making theirs.

Thing is, Michigan didn’t.

Every Michigan player who took a 3-pointer made one, led by four each from Darius Morris, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Evan Smotrycz.

“I had the same thoughts when you’re 1-for-9 that the next one is going to go in,” Beilein said. “When you’re 6-for-9, maybe it’s the Irish part of me I guess, always looking for the disaster around the corner.

“They were just daring us to shoot it at times.”

Freshmen play well Beilein may not have needed to see his freshmen forwards, Hardaway Jr. and Smotrycz, have one more good game before Big Ten play starts next Tuesday against Purdue.

But it sure didn’t hurt.

Smotrycz had 14 points and Hardaway Jr. a career-high 20 points. That's one more point than they combined for in their previous-best collective game in a 69-61 win at Clemson.

“It’s been a long year for those two with the minutes,” Beilein said. “They were the leading scorers at halftime and finished with a great game.”

Michigan’s third rotation freshman, Jon Horford, had his becoming-typical night of six points and five rebounds.

Dumars close to being eligible Sophomore guard Jordan Dumars thought Thursday’s game might have been the first one he’d be eligible for in his Michigan career.

Turns out he’ll have to wait a little longer.

Not all of Dumars’ grades were posted by tip-off, so he didn’t even dress for the game.

Dumars is expected to be available for the Big Ten opener against Purdue.

This and that Beilein said he didn’t know about Smotrycz leaving the game with a leg injury in the second half, but didn’t seem too concerned about it, either. … Former Michigan star Manny Harris, now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, watched the game from the first row of Crisler Arena. … Smotrycz ended up taking a late flight back to Massachusetts on Thursday night. Michigan’s players are expected back from their holiday break Saturday night for a Sunday practice.

Michael Rothstein covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.