Wolverines move to 6-7 in Big Ten
EVANSTON, IL (AP) -- Manny Harris scored eight of his 26 points in overtime to lift fading Michigan to a 70-67 victory over Northwestern on Sunday and just its third win in 10 games.
The Big Ten's third-leading scorer, Harris came up big after scoring just one point in the first half and gave the Wolverines' flickering playoff hopes a boost in the process.
The Wolverines (16-10, 6-7 Big Ten) let a five-point lead slip away in regulation but prevailed thanks to Harris' scoring binge in overtime.
Harris buried a jumper, layup and two free throws to make it 64-58 with 2:03 left, but the Wildcats (13-10, 4-8) weren't finished.
Coble buried a jumper and then converted all three free throws with just under a minute left after being fouled by DeSwawn Sims with 59 seconds remaining to make it 66-65, but Michigan hung on.
Harris answered with two free throws, and after a put-back by Northwestern's Jerermy Nash, the Wolverines got two free throws by C.J. Lee and another by Zack Gibson to make it 69-65 with 7.2 seconds left.
The Wolverines were leading 56-51 with 1:40 left in regulation after a 7-0 run, but after watching a 14-point lead disintegrate in a 60-59 loss to No. 22 Illinois three nights earlier, Northwestern provided some late theatrics this time. It helped that Michigan committed three turnovers in the final 1:20 of regulation.
But the most dramatic moment was this: Kevin Coble (26 points) pumping in mid-air while burying a 3-pointer to tie it with 20 seconds left in regulation. Fans chanting "Three! Three! Three!" as the referees reviewed the shot got their wish.
But Northwestern didn't get a win.
That went to Michigan, which looked like a lock for the NCAA tournament early on with a 13-3 start. That sent expectations soaring for a team that won just 10 games last season - its first under coach John Beilein. Now, the Wolverines need a strong to boost their fading NCAA hopes.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
