Michigan
3-3
Western Kentucky
5-1
U-M Concludes Alaska Shootout With Tough Loss to Hilltoppers
11/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Boxscore | Notes & Quotes
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Despite four players posting double figure performances, the University of Michigan men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaking 73-69 loss to an experienced Western Kentucky squad Saturday (Nov. 24) in the Wolverines final game at the Great Alaska Shootout in Sullivan Arena.
After the Hilltoppers built a 13-point lead in the first half, the Wolverines stormed back during the second half with stern defense and heady plays to get to the free throw line. U-M cut the lead to just two with 43 seconds remaining after a 6-0 run during the final two minutes. With time running out, Western Kentucky ran the clock down and fired a final shot that missed, but a rebound and circus putback by the Hilltoppers' D.J. Magley sealed the win with just four seconds remaining.
Freshman Manny Harris(Detroit, Mich./Redford HS) once again led U-M, tying his career-best with 22 points. Most of his points came from the free throw line as he was 14-for-19 from the charity stripe. Harris added a career-best eight rebounds in a career-best 34 minutes. Three other Wolverines posted double figure games, as sophomore DeShawn Sims(Detroit, Mich./Pershing HS) scored 16, junior/sophomore Zack Gibson(Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) had a career-best 11 and senior Ron Coleman(Romulus, Mich./Romulus HS) posted 10 -- his third straight double-digit game.
The veteran Hilltoppers came out strong in the first half, using pressure defense to jump out to a quick 5-0 lead. The Wolverines struggled early against the forceful defense, but Michigan eventually executed its offense as Harris continued to drive to the basket and draw fouls. With less than 15 minutes to play in the first, U-M trailed by just one, 15-14.
The Maize and Blue went up three, 20-17, after a putback from Gibson, but the Hilltoppers responded again with their defense to force 10 Wolverine first-half turnovers. WKU used a strong inside/outside game to go on a 19-8 run during the next 10 minutes to build a 38-28 lead. The lead would grow to as much as 15 with time expiring, but a Gibson steal and Harris half-ending layup gave the Wolverines a much needed lift, as they trailed 45-32 at the break.
Using the momentum at the end of the first half, the Wolverines came out strong and battled back and forth with the Hilltoppers during the first 10 minutes of the second half. WKU was able to maintain a 12-point lead, 60-48, continuing to pressure the Wolverines. Junior Jerret Smith(Romulus, Mich./Romulus HS) came off the bench to spark a U-M rally with a three-pointer, followed by Harris slashing to the basket to draw fouls and sink four free throws to cut the lead to five. Following a WKU layup, a second Smith triple from the corner helped U-M trail by just four with six minutes remaining.
The Hilltoppers' experience showed as they went to their "go-to" man Courtney Lee late in the game. Lee scored six straight points to help WKU maintain a seven-point edge as the game went back and forth. With under 1:30 to go, a Sims triple cut the lead to four, and a steal from senior/junior C.J. Lee(Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland HS) and subsequent fastbreak dunk from Harris cut the lead to two with 43 seconds remaining. The Hilltoppers ran the clock down for a final attempt, and Magley's dramatic putback ended the Wolverines' comeback hopes in a 73-69 loss.
After spending the last seven days in Alaska, the Wolverines will head back to Ann Arbor, Mich., to host Boston College in the 2007 Big Ten/ACC Challenge Wednesday (Nov. 18) in Crisler Arena. The game will be televised on ESPNU with a 7:15 p.m. tipoff.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
