Wolverines Drop Second Straight Game at Home

Saturday, February 24

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:01 PM

Michigan

Purdue

2/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's basketball team dropped its second straight home game with a 78-59 loss to Purdue University on Saturday (Feb. 24) at Crisler Arena. The Wolverines fall to 4-10 in the Big Ten (10-15 overall), while Purdue (14-12, 6-9 Big Ten) ends a six-game losing streak.

Michigan got on the board first with two points off a steal by junior Leon Jones (Battle Creek, Mich./Winchendon Prep [Conn.]), starting his first game since the season opener at Oakland (Nov. 17, 2000). Purdue answered with a basket of its own and the game remained locked at two apiece for five minutes. Purdue embarked on a 9-0 run before freshman Josh Moore (Newark, N.J./St. Thomas More Prep [Conn.]) stopped the onslaught, bringing the score to 11-4. Senior Josh Asselin (Caro, Mich./Caro HS) added two of his own before the Boilermakers went for another 9-0 run.

Sophomore Gavin Groninger (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield HS) gave the Wolverines their first triple of the game, with seven minutes left in the half. Junior Chris Young (Plymouth, Mich./Catholic Central HS) hit a basket and made the ensuing free throw to bring Michigan's deficit to 10. Michigan traded baskets with Purdue for the remainder of the period and went into halftime down 45-30.

Asselin and freshman Bernard Robinson Jr. (Washington, D.C./New Hampton Prep [N.H.]) led the Wolverines in scoring during the first half, both totaling eight points.

During the second half, Purdue's defense held the Wolverines to only 11 points in the first 10 minutes of play. In the next three minutes, the Wolverines began to cut into the deficit and pulled within nine (62-53) at the 6:25 mark on a triple from LaVell Blanchard (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS). But the Boilermakers, who connected on all 25 of their trips to the line, scored the next four points and slowly pulled away again.

Robinson Jr. led the Wolverines in scoring with 20 points, one shy of his career high. Asselin and Blanchard each finished with 11 points.

The Wolverines will close out their home schedule when they host Northwestern on Wednesday (Feb. 28) at 8 p.m. It will be the final Crisler Arena appearance for U-M's two seniors -- Asselin and Mike Gotfredson (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich./Grosse Pointe South HS).

N O T E S

LaVell Blanchard has had 14 straight games scoring in double figures.

Jermaine Gonzales (Orchard Lake, Mich./St. Mary's HS) made his first first-half appearance and matched his career high in minutes played at three.

Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423