Crawford Ices Comeback Win with Late-Game Heroics

Tuesday, November 23

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:30 PM

Michigan

Detroit

11/23/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Freshman guard Jamal Crawford (Renton, Wash./Rainier Beach HS) scored the go-ahead basket with three seconds remaining, then stole the ensuing inbounds pass to seal the victory as the University of Michigan men's basketball team notched a thrilling come-from-behind 66-62 win over Detroit on Tuesday (Nov. 23). Michigan (2-0) trailed by as many as 15 points before closing the game with a 21-7 run to pull out the victory.

A Michigan dunk from Josh Asselin (Caro, Mich./Caro HS) opened up the game's scoring. After Michigan went up 4-0, Detroit came back with 11 straight points to go up 11-4, but that run was stopped by a three-point play from Michigan freshman Kevin Gaines (Las Vegas, Nev./Clark HS). Detroit eventually pushed its lead early to as much as nine at 23-14 before a three-pointer from Gavin Groninger (Plainfield, Ind./Planfield HS) and a pair of free throws from LaVell Blanchard (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) cut the the deficit to four at 23-19.

However, Detroit (1-1) regained momentum and went on another run for its biggest lead of the half at 32-19. Behind the solid play of Blanchard, who led Michigan with eight points and five rebounds in the first half, Michigan ran off a 7-2 run to finish the half trailing 34-26. Senior Pete Vignier (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck HS) came off the bench to share Michigan's rebounding high for the half with Blanchard at five.

Detroit came out of the intermission and immediately pushed its back up to double digits and led by as much as 15 at 42-27 with 17:56 to play. Crawford sparked a Michigan run with a three-pointer and fast-break layup to cut the deficit to four at 45-41. From that point Michigan and Detroit traded runs before the Wolverines made a move with the Titans leading 56-52. Following a pair of Vignier free throws, Michigan trailed by as few as two points for the first time since trailing 5-4 1:44 into the contest.

Michigan finally came all the way back to tie the game at 57 on a three-point shot from Groninger, then took the lead on a jumper from sophomore Leon Jones (Battle Creek, Mich./Winchendon Prep). Jones, who was scoreless at the half, came through with eight second-half points for the Wolverines. Michigan led by as much as three at 60-57 until Detroit took the lead back at 61-60.

From there Crawford took over for the Maize and Blue and tied the game at 62 on runner in the lane. Detroit missed a pair of free throws with 0:37 remaining to set up heroics from Crawford, who again dropped a jumper from the inside the key, this time with 0:03 left to put Michigan on top. A Crawford steal on the ensuing Detroit inbound pass led to a Blanchard dunk to seal Michigan's 66-62 win.

Crawford, who was shut out in the first half, scored 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting in the second half to lead Michigan. Blanchard and Vignier paced the Wolverines off the glass by pulling down nine boards apiece, while Groninger knocked down 3-of-4 from three-point range for 11 points. Groninger's hot shooting in the second half helped Michigan post a shooting percentage of .565 (13-of-23) in the second frame after being cold from the field (.258, 8-31) in the first half.

N O T E S

-- Detroit coach Perry Watson is now 0-7 all-time vs. Michigan.

-- Michigan has defeated Detroit in 12 straight matchups. Michigan's last loss came in 1982.

-- Peter Vignier has 23 rebounds in his last two games vs. Detroit after grabbing nine tonight and 14 a year ago against the Titans.

Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423