Michigan
Iowa
Wolverines Use Balanced Attack to Down Hawkeyes
2/14/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Gavin Groninger (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield HS) scored 19 points to lead six Wolverines in double figures as the University of Michigan men's basketball earned a 95-85 victory over Iowa (No. 25 AP, No. 24 USA Today/ESPN) on Wednesday (Feb. 14). Avery Queen (Moreno Valley, Calif./Redemption Christian Academy [N.Y.]) added a career-high 18 points and four assists and LaVell Blanchard (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) logged his seventh double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Michigan (10-13, 4-8 Big Ten) won the tip to start the game and took it right to Iowa (17-7, 6-5 Big Ten) as Josh Asselin (Caro, Mich./Caro HS) found Chris Young (Plymouth, Mich./Catholic Central HS) on a high-low pass for a one-handed slam. Asselin delivered a facial right on top of two Hawkeye defenders for the Wolverines' next score to put an end to a 5-0 Iowa run.
Three-point land became Michigan's resource for 15 of its next 17 points, as the Wolverines went on a 19-4 run to take the lead. Blanchard started the triple barrage by hitting his first on the wing. The next two trips down the court, Queen shot down two from beyond the arc. Groninger used patience as he shot-faked his defender in the air to free himself up for his first trey of the night. The Hawkeyes were forced to call a timeout after Bernard Robinson Jr. (Washington D.C./New Hampton Prep [N.H.]) hit a wide-open Groninger in transition for his second three in a row, making the score 26-11 at the 10:22 mark.
The excitement continued for the Wolverines as Leon Jones (Battle Creek, Mich./Winchendon Prep [Conn.]) gave the perfect alley-oop pass to Robinson Jr. for a crowd-pleasing jam. The dunk led to an 8-1 run, as Jones helped the cause by knocking down a deep deuce over a double screen. Jones continued his nice play with a steal and assist to a streaking Queen off a two-on-one fast break. Robinson Jr. capped the run with another deep two in the face of a Hawkeye, bringing the score to 36-15 with 6:07 left to play.
The crowd erupted again after Josh Moore (Newark, N.J./St. Thomas More Prep [Conn.]) spun his way free for a monster dunk. The Wolverines demonstrated some razzle-dazzle as Robinson Jr. did a little shake-and-back inside the lane for two. Michigan's 7-3 run was aided by the Wolverines' sixth three of the half, this time with Blanchard knocking one down in the corner, cushioning the lead at 47-26 with just over a minute to play.
Michigan held a 50-32 lead at the halfway point. The Wolverines shot 60 percent from the field (18-30), and eight different players scored at least two points in the first 20 minutes of action. Groninger had a team-high 11 points at the break.
To start the half, Queen hit a short jumper in the lane, but Iowa answered that with a 9-1 run to close the gap. Asselin took a little momentum out of the Hawkeyes after dunking on them, bringing the crowd back into the game. On U-M's next possession, Queen tried a three and missed, but a soaring Robinson Jr. leaped over the outstretched arms of Iowa and tip-dunked another two for the Wolverines, for a 59-48 game with 15:27 to play.
Iowa's hot shooting continued, and Blanchard had to end another mini-run with a deep jumper on the wing. Groninger took over the offense thereafter, using a well-designed double screen for three following a TV timeout. Queen then found Groninger on an underhanded pass off the fast break for a 68-57 lead at the 10:21 mark.
The Wolverines' next seven points came from the free throw line as Michigan went close to five minutes without a field goal until Queen hit a long two in the corner with an inside-out game, to give U-M a six point lead 78-72. Michigan continued its toughness on its next trip, as Asselin spun to the baseline and jammed home two, then added a tip in on his next attempt, making the score 82-75 with just under four minutes to play.
With time winding down and Iowa forced to foul, Michigan responded by making its free throws down the stretch. The Wolverines' final 13 points were from the charity stripe to put the game out of reach and preserve the victory.
The Wolverines host Minnesota on Saturday (Feb. 17) at Crisler Arena, with tipoff scheduled for 12:17 p.m.
N O T E S
The last time Michigan had six players in double figures was against Wagner (Nov. 25), with LaVell Blanchard (24), Bernard Robinson Jr. (17), Josh Asselin (12), Chris Young (12), Josh Moore (10) and Avery Queen (10).
LaVell Blanchard's three-point bucket with 15:16 left in the first half put him over 400 points for the season. He now has back-to-back seasons with 400 points (415 this season, 404 as a freshman). He also surpassed 400 career rebounds in the first half.
With 17 points and 12 rebounds, LaVell Blanchard recorded his seventh double-double of the season and 16th for his career. It was also his 12th straight game in double figures.
The last time Michigan scored 50 points in a half was against Towson (Dec. 28, 1999), when it had 51 in the first half. Michigan went on to win that game 98-84.
The victory gives U-M its 19th consecutive season with 10 or more wins.
Avery Queen's 18 points are a career high, bettering the 17 he had at Purdue (Jan. 3). It was also Queen's fifth career double-digit game.
Gavin Groninger had his 12th career double-digit game and second straight. Groninger's eight free throws were also a career high.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
