Purdue guard Brandon Newman (5) blocks the shot of Michigan guard Franz Wagner (21) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Michigan coach Juwan Howard put the emphasis on defense from the first time his entire team practiced this season.

It paid big dividends Friday night.

On a night Isaiah Livers matched his season high with 22 points and Eli Brooks added 11, the seventh-ranked Wolverines used a staunch defense to pull away from Purdue 70-53.

“They all did a great job. It was not easy because Trevion (Williams) is one of the best bigs in this conference and also one of the best in the country,” Howard said when asked specifically about Michigan’s post play. “I know tomorrow they’re going to wake up sore because they earned it. This was an old-school, Big Ten type of game. The Big Ten has always been a physical conference and tonight’s game was really about physicality.”

By winning their fifth straight in the series, the Wolverines (13-1, 8-1 Big Ten) maintained their stranglehold on the conference lead.

But this one came with some trepidation after Purdue’s top 3-point shooter, Sasha Stefanovic, tested positive for COVID-19. A second test Wednesday confirmed the initial result.

Boilermakers coach Matt Painter explained that the team’s protocols required Stefanovic to wear a mask on their bus trip and plane ride back from Ohio State earlier this week and that the senior guard was not around anyone else after he returned to campus. No other players tested positive and after Howard said he spoke with his players individually, the game was played.

Livers, for one, said he had was nervous about playing — until being told of the precautions Purdue took.

And without Stefanovic on the perimeter, the Wolverines took full advantage by packing it in and daring Purdue to win from the perimeter.