New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 23 points and the fourth-ranked Michigan Wolverines used a strong second half to beat the Kansas State Wildcats, 71-57, in the championship game of the NIT Season Tip-Off.

However, Hardaway left the game late in the second half after taking a knee to the back of his head.

Trey Burke and Nik Stauskas added 10 points apiece for the Wolverines (5-0), who shot 51.8 percent from the field.

Rodney McGruder ended with 16 points and seven rebounds for the Wildcats (5-1), who shot 36.7 percent from the floor. Angel Rodriguez donated 10 points and six assists in defeat.

Michigan jumped out to a 10-point lead early on, but Kansas State responded with a 9-1 spurt. Rodriguez's 3-pointer and Jordan Henriquez's jumper cut the gap to 22-20 with 5:37 left in the opening 20 minutes

The Wolverines answered with four straight points and eventually took a 29-24 lead into the locker room.

Michigan created some distance with a 14-3 run to start the second half. Hardaway tallied six points during the surge to make it a 43-27 contest with 14:44 remaining.

The Wolverines used an 8-0 burst minutes later to extend their margin to 51-30.

It remained a double-digit game the rest of the way.

Game Notes

Michigan holds a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series ... Hardaway won the NIT Season Tip-Off Most Outstanding Player award ... The Wolverines outscored the Wildcats by a 42-33 margin in the second half.