a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1 1/2 minutes left and Manny Harris
followed with a layup to lift Michigan to a 68-63 win over No. 15
Connecticut on Sunday.
Harris finished with 18 points for
the Wolverines (10-7), who earned the signature win they needed in a
season that started with them ranked 15th, coming off their first NCAA
tournament bid since 1998.
The Huskies (11-6) have lost three straight for the first time since closing the 2006-07 season with four losses.
Connecticut's Kemba Walker had 15, Gavin Edwards scored 14, Jerome Dyson had 13 and Stanley Robinson added 11.
The Huskies struggled at the
free-throw line, missing four in the last 45 seconds and going 16 of 25
overall. Dyson, the team's leading scorer, was 5 of 16 from the field
and 2 for 5 at the line.
Harris has played well all season for Michigan. For a change, he got plenty of help.
Stu Douglass scored 13 points —
making three 3-pointers — and Novak had 10 points. DeShawn Sims had eight
points and 11 rebounds while dealing with foul trouble and Anthony
Wright nearly doubled his season high with nine points.
Novak's clutch 3-pointer put Michigan
ahead 61-58. He also made two free throws in the final minute to seal
the victory that led to a fired-up crowd rushing the court.
Harris opened the second half with a
putback to put the Wolverines up by 11. Connecticut responded with a
16-5 run that Edwards capped with back-to-back baskets.
Both teams took turns with the lead
and Novak provided a boost by swatting an alley-oop pass by the Huskies
and scoring on an offensive rebound putback on the ensuing possession.
The Wolverines fell behind 12-6, but quickly showed they had enough talent and confidence to win the game.
Douglass made consecutive 3-pointers to tie it and Michigan led 32-23 at halftime.