Michigan
IUPUI
Wolverines Fend Off Jaguars, Extend Win Streak to Seven
1/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
| | Abram was 7-8 from the field and 6-6 from the foul line for his career-high 20 points. |
The Wolverines stormed out of the gates early, building a 9-0 lead as Abram connected on two long jumpers from the wing and Horton scored five points after a triple and an easy layin off of a steal. IUPUI responded with six unanswered points to narrow the gap to three before Horton nailed his second three of the game to increase U-M's lead. The Michigan freshmen continued to play big minutes, as center Chris Hunter (Gary, Ind./West Side HS) scored a bucket down low while he was fouled and converted on the free throw. After another basket from Hunter in the post, Blanchard scored his first points of the contest from behind the arc to put the Wolverines ahead 20-11.
Both teams struggled to find their shooting touch on the next several possessions before the Jaguars went on a 7-0 run to cut Michigan's lead to two points. Senior guard Gavin Groninger (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield HS) nailed a three-pointer to put Michigan ahead by five. Abram scored four points on U-M's next two possessions and Blanchard hit his second triple to increase the lead to nine points. Bradley kept IUPUI in the game with seven consecutive points to cut the Wolverines' lead to five with just over a minute remaining in the half. The two teams exchanged baskets in the closing minute as freshman guard Sherrod Harrell (Kalamazoo, Mich./Central HS) got on the scoreboard with two points from the charity stripe and Blanchard hit another trey to give Michigan a 39-34 advantage heading into halftime.
Horton and Abram each netted 10 points to lead U-M at the break. Bradley and Josh Mullins scored nine points apiece in the first half for IUPUI.
The Jaguars used the opening three minutes of the second half to go on an 11-5 run to take their first lead of the game, 45-44. During the run, freshman center Graham Brown (Mio, Mich./Mio-AuSable HS) scored four points inside to keep the game within a basket. Following five straight points by IUPUI, Blanchard knocked down another trey and Abram scored two on a slashing drive, allowing Michigan to regain the lead, 51-50. On IUPUI's next trip down the floor, Hunter batted down a Jaguar shot down low and U-M jumped on the loose ball and gained possession on a held-ball call. Blanchard hit his fifth triple of the game to put the Wolverines ahead by four points until IUPUI went on an 8-2 run to take a 58-56 lead.
After Bradley connected on his third triple for the Jaguars, Brown knocked down two free throws and Harrell swiped an IUPUI pass and took it coast to coast for a layup to knot the game at 61-61 with just over seven minutes remaining. The Jaguars then ran into some foul trouble, as Mullins and Josh Murray both fouled out of the game. Following two free throws from Groninger and a bucket down low from Brown, IUPUI used two shots from the line to keep the game within two points. Horton scored another basket and Jaguar guard Marcus May hit a triple to tie the game at 67. On Michigan's next possession, Blanchard collected a missed three-point shot from Horton and put it back in to give Michigan a 69-67 edge.
The Maize and Blue would never relinquish the lead, as Blanchard scored three more points and Abram scored six of Michigan's final 10 points, including a fast-break slam off of a nice pass from Groninger. IUPUI continued to run into foul trouble as two more players went to the bench with five fouls. Bradley kept the Jaguars in the game in the final minutes, with five straight points, but they had no choice but to foul, sending Groninger and Horton to the line to give Michigan the five-point win.
The Wolverines will begin Big Ten Conference play next Wednesday (Jan. 8) when they host Wisconsin at 8 p.m. in Crisler Arena.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
