Michigan
5-12 (1-4)
Illinois
9-9 (1-4)
Michigan Falls at Illinois Despite Strong Bench Effort
1/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Site: Champaign, Ill. (Assembly Hall)
Score: Illinois 75, Michigan 57
Records: U-M (5-12, 1-4 Big Ten), Illinois (9-9, 1-4 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Jan. 19 -- vs. Iowa (Crisler Arena), 7 p.m.
Boxscore | Postgame Notes
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Despite outscoring the Illinois bench 28-8, the University of Michigan men's basketball team dropped a 75-57 effort to the Fighting Illini Wednesday night (Jan. 16) in Assembly Hall. Illinois began the contest hot, mounting a double-digit lead before a series of Michigan three-pointers midway through the first half gave the Wolverines their first lead of the game. With the game tied 43-43 in the second half the Illini pulled ahead, gaining an insurmountable 58-44 lead with seven minutes left in the game.
Sophomore/freshman Anthony Wright(Sterling, Va./Oak Hill Academy) led Michigan with 15 points on five-of-eight shooting beyond the arc. Sophomore DeShawn Sims(Detroit, Mich./Pershing HS) tallied 13 points on 6-of-15 shooting and five rebounds.
After falling behind 17-5 to begin the game, the Wolverines stormed back with a 14-0 run to take their first lead of the ballgame at 19-17. During the run Michigan was sparked by its bench, as Wright and senior David Merritt(West Bloomfield, Mich./West Bloomfield HS) each connected on a pair of three-pointers. The Wolverines finished the first half outscoring the Illinois bench 18-5. Michigan's lead did not last long, as Illinois forward Brian Randle collected a game-high 15 first-half points en route to a six-point Illini advantage late in the half. A Harris bucket at 1:28 sent the Wolverines into halftime trailing 36-32.
A jumper at 12:35 by Sims tied the game at 43-43, but Illinois quickly responded with a 15-1 run to take a 58-44 advantage midway through second half. Michigan failed to connect offensively the rest of the contest, as U-M recorded three field goals for the remainder of the game.
After two conference road games, the Wolverines return home to face Iowa Saturday (Jan. 19) in Crisler Arena. The game against the Hawkeyes will be a "Maize Out" with the first 3,500 Wolverine fans receiving a complimentary maize T-shirt for the game. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip and will be aired on the Big Ten Network.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
