Michigan
Grand Rapids Hoops (ex)
U-M Comes Up One Point Short in Exhibition Opener
11/7/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Arena)
Score: Grand Rapids Hoops 71, Michigan 70 (exhibition)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Nov. 12 -- vs. Wayne State (Crisler Arena), 1 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's basketball team lost a 71-70 decision to the Grand Rapids Hoops of the CBA on Tuesday (Nov. 7) in its first exhibition game of the new season. Michigan's Leon Jones (Battle Creek, Mich./Winchendon Prep) had a chance to tie the game after being fouled on a three-point attempt with 1.2 seconds left but missed the final free throw.
Freshman Bernard Robinson Jr. (Washington, D.C./New Hampton Prep) led the way for the Wolverines with a game-high 28 points in his debut. Grand Rapids, which is a professional team, had former college standouts Antonio Lang (Duke), Antonio Smith (Michigan State) and Michigan's own Eric Riley in the lineup. Bryant Smith (Auburn) had a team-high 26 points for the Hoops.
Michigan started a young lineup with one sophomore and three freshmen, including Robinson, Avery Queen (Moreno Valley, Calif./Redemption Academy) and Josh Moore (Newark, N.J./St. Thomas More Prep). The Hoops started on a 5-0 run to begin the contest before Moore scored U-M's first bucket on a hook shot from inside the lane. Grand Rapids extended the lead to 9-2 before sophomore Gavin Groninger (Plainfield/Ind./Plainfield HS) scored five straight points, including the first Michigan three-pointer of the game.
The crowd received some early season highlights out of the new faces. Robinson dazzled fans with a slashing drive, finished off with a finger roll. A few minutes later (8:52), the Maize and Blue had a three-point play after Moore put down a thundering put-back dunk and capped off the play with a free throw.
The Wolverines were down as many as 14 points in the first 20 minutes and went into halftime with a 41-30 deficit. Michigan took the momentum into the locker room after freshman Maurice Searight (Orchard Lake, Mich./St. Mary's HS) made a runner in the lane with three seconds remaining in the half. Robinson led the first-half offensive attack for U-M with 12 points, but it was the Hoops' Bryant Smith (17 points) and the CBA professional team's shooting 47.2 percent in the first half that controlled the tempo.
Michigan came out in the second half showing its quickness in the open court. Robinson connected on back-to-back reverse layups to cut the margin to 41-34. The Wolverine run did not last long, as the Hoops went on a 7-0 run of their own to extend the lead.
The momentum shifted for Michigan when it went on a 13-3 run at the 10:49 mark. Robinson started it off with his third three-pointer of the game. Following a Hoops turnover and with the shot clock winding down, Searight had a nice assist after spinning in the lane and dumping off the ball to Moore for a dunk, making it a 61-55 game.
Senior Josh Asselin (Caro, Mich./Caro HS) picked a good time to score his first points of the night, on a put-back to cut the lead to 64-60. Robinson then added another three-pointer, bringing the Wolverines within a point. After a Grand Rapids bucket, Searight beat the Hoops down the court, finishing the play with a cross-over dribble and kissing the ball off the glass for two, making it a 66-65 game with 3:55 left to play.
The crowd came alive again at the 2:09 mark after Jones stole a pass and took it for a high-flying dunk that brought the Wolverines within one point yet again. After a timeout with 42.5 seconds remaining, Michigan worked the ball around to Robinson, but he missed on a three-point attempt. Michigan was forced to foul Antonio Smith, who made both his free throws, giving the Hoops a three-point lead.
After working the ball for a good shot, Jones was fouled on a three-point attempt with 1.2 seconds left in the game. Jones made the first two but, following a timeout, hit the front rim on the final shot. Riley secured the rebound, giving the Hoops the one-point victory.
The Wolverines return to Crisler Arena on Sunday (Nov. 12), hosting Wayne State for the final exhibition game of the season, with tipoff at 1 p.m.
