Michigan Downs Northwestern for Fourth Overtime Win

Saturday, February 26

Evanston, Ill.

11:07 AM CT

Michigan

Northwestern

2/26/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

EVANSTON, Ill. -- The University of Michigan men's basketball team remained unbeaten in overtime this season after winning its fourth Big Ten Conference OT contest over Northwestern, 61-55, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 26) in Welsh-Ryan Arena. The win improves the Wolverines to 14-11 overall and 5-9 in Big Ten play. Northwestern falls to 5-22 and 0-14.

After the Wolverines built a 16-point halftime lead, the Wildcats chipped away in the second half to come within two with 18 seconds to go. After a Michigan turnover and foul, Northwestern's Tavaras Hardy hit two free throws with 1.6 seconds to go to tie the game at 49-49 to send it to overtime.

But in the extra period, the Wolverines were able to hold off the Wildcats as sophomore Chris Young (Plymouth, Mich./Catholic Central HS) and freshman Kevin Gaines (Las Vegas, Nev./Clark HS) led the way. After the Wildcats continued to use the momentum built in the second half to go up two in overtime, Gaines hit a key three-pointer with two minutes left to swing it back the Wolverines' way. Young took over from there with a rebound putback and then two free throws with 25 seconds left to put the Wolverines up four. Freshman Gavin Groninger (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield HS) capped off the game with two more free throws with 14 seconds remaining to preserve the Wolverines six-point win.

Groninger led the way for the Wolverines with 14 points, his second straight double-digit performance. He was instrumental in the Wolverines' quick start as he hit 11 of his 14 points in the first half. He also finished the game with a career highs of five rebounds and 38 minutes of action. Young, who started his fifth straight game, finished with a career-best nine rebounds and matched his career high with 31 minutes played.

Senior Peter Vignier (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck HS) had one of his best games of the season with seven points and a career-best four steals. Gaines finished with his fourth straight double-figure game with 10 points. He also had seven rebounds and had five assists.

Michigan will play Iowa on Wednesday (March 1) in Crisler Arena in its last regular-season home contest. The Wolverines' two seniors -- Vignier and Darius Taylor (Chicago, Ill./Lake View HS) -- will be recognized before the game tips off at 8 p.m.

N O T E S

-- Michigan has won four straight Big Ten overtime contests this season and has prevailed in its last six Big Ten OT games overall. The overtime game was also the fifth against Northwestern in team history. Michigan trails the all-time overtime series 2-3.

-- Kevin Gaines' 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists against Northwestern give him freshman-season totals of 300 points, 113 assists and 100 rebounds.

Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423