Wolverines pull away in waning minutes for 70-63 victory
MINNEAPOLIS, MN (AP) -- Tim Hardaway Jr. hit five 3-pointers in the game's first 12 minutes and finished with 22 points to help young Michigan win another Big Ten road game, 70-63 over sputtering Minnesota on Saturday.
Darius Morris added 17 points and seven assists, deftly getting to the basket with some hard-nosed drives in the second half to lead the Wolverines (18-12, 8-9) and keep their NCAA tournament bid in tact. They're 4-5 on the road in the conference this season.
Stu Douglass scored 12 points and Zack Novak contributed a key 3-pointer and a late steal in the closing minutes for Michigan to pull out a free-flowing game that featured only 17 combined free-throw attempts - and 44 heaves from 3-point range. The Wolverines went 12 for 28 after starting 6 for 7.
Blake Hoffarber had 18 points and six assists, and Trevor Mbakwe scored 18 points with nine rebounds for the Gophers (17-11, 6-10), who have tumbled out of NCAA tournament contention without senior point guard Al Nolen, who is out with a broken foot.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
