Michigan
Northwestern
Wolverines Nipped by Wildcats in Final Home Game
2/28/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's basketball team dropped its third straight game, falling 75-70 against Northwestern in its home season finale on Wednesday (Feb. 28) at Crisler Arena. The Wolverines shot better from the field (54.5 percent), but it was the Wildcats' 19-24 from the charity stripe that won the game. LaVell Blanchard (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) had a game-high 29 points and tied his career high with 13 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season.
Michigan (10-16, 4-11 Big Ten) scored quickly as Josh Asselin (Caro, Mich/Caro HS) one-handed tip-dunked a Gavin Groninger (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield HS) miss for the Wolverines' first bucket. Blanchard knocked down the first three of the game on the next possession in the corner after Chris Young (Plymouth, Mich./Catholic Central HS) found him open off a double-team. Asselin then connected on a jumper from just beyond the free throw line to tie the game at 7-7 after just four minutes of play.
Coming off the bench, Bernard Robinson Jr. (Washington, D.C./New Hampton Prep [N.H.]) got into the act just seconds after the substitution. With back-to-back steals, Robinson Jr. scored twice off the break, finishing his second layup with a fancy finger roll. The highlight reel continued, as Blanchard took an inbounds pass from under the hoop and rim-rocked his way to a one-handed jam, giving the Wolverines a two-point lead, 13-11, with 12:36 on the clock.
Northwestern (11-18, 3-13 Big Ten) went on a 7-0 run to take the lead before Avery Queen (Moreno Valley, Calif./Redemption Christian Academy [N.Y.]) took the momentum of the game. Queen personally went on an 8-2 run as he scored eight straight points for the Wolverines, pulling up for two triples and using a nice stutter-step move to free himself for a layup. Michigan took the lead back at 23-22 as the time showed 5:08 left in the half.
The Wolverines took a 32-29 lead into the locker room, which was helped by a monster slam from Young off a high-low pass from Asselin. Both teams shot well from the field, but it was Michigan's blistering 53.8 percent that helped its cause.
The Wildcats began the second half on a 9-0 run as Michigan misfired on its first four shot attempts before Blanchard scored on a basket and a foul. The crowd erupted following a display of aerial offense, as Groninger threw up an alley and Blanchard flushed with an oop. The high-flying play sparked the Wolverines as they went on a mini-run to tie the game at 41-41 at the 12:08 mark, thanks in part to two straight buckets from Robinson Jr.
After Asselin picked up his third foul, Michigan went to its bench and was not disappointed. Josh Moore (Newark, N.J./St. Thomas More Prep [Conn.]) came in for Asselin, and his presence was felt immediately. First, Moore showed his hook shot to the Wildcats and lofted his first basket of the game. A few minutes later, Leon Jones (Battle Creek, Mich./Winchendon Prep [Conn.]) found a wide-open Moore, who brought the house down -- and almost the backboard -- as he powered the Maize and Blue to within a deuce, 49-47.
With 8:38 in the game, the Michigan bench received a technical foul, which would lead to a five-point trip for Northwestern. The Wolverines responded with an 8-2 run of their own, after Moore spun his way free on the baseline for a slam and Blanchard layed in a basket off the break, forcing the Wildcats to call a timeout. However, Robinson Jr. added another layup as he hung in the air on a transition break, to bring the Wolverines within four at 61-57 at the 4:22 point in the game.
With under four minutes to go in regulation, Blanchard worked his way on the inside for an offensive rebound off a missed free throw and an easy putback. The crowd came to its feet only moments later, as a streaking Robinson Jr. caught the Northwestern defense off guard and delivered a crowd-pleasing tomahawk dunk to pull Michigan within two at 63-61 as the clock showed 3:30 left to play.
After opportunities for both teams at the free throw line, Jones kept the Wolverines in the game by pulling down an offensive rebound, hitting the floor and then getting an assist to Robinson Jr., who was making his way to the basket. After a Wildcat layup, Blanchard hit a deep three, making it 71-68 with 37.9 seconds left. The Wolverines forced a turnover with their press but missed on two shots that would have tied or brought them within one point. With Michigan forced to foul, Northwestern made its final four free throws, putting the game out of reach.
Michigan closes out its regular-season schedule with a trip to East Lansing, Mich., to face No. 3-ranked Michigan State on Saturday (March 3) at 4:37 p.m.
N O T E S
Tonight's game marked the final home game for Michigan seniors Josh Asselin and Mike Gotfredson (Grosse Pointe, Mich./South HS). Gotfredson received his third start of the season in honor of Senior Night. His previous starts were at Oakland (Nov. 17) and at Indiana (Feb. 11).
Asselin has played in 118 consecutive games for the Wolverines.
With his 29 points and 13 rebounds, LaVell Blanchard had his eighth double-double of the season, and 17th of his career.
Blanchard has 15 consecutive double-figure scoring games and has scored 10 or more points in 45 of 54 career games. It also marked his ninth 20-point game of the season, and 16th of his career.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
