Michigan
Chattanooga
Second-Half Spurt Runs Michigan Past Chattanooga
12/4/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Blanchard scored a game- and career-high 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting while grabbing eight rebounds and one block. Gaines outdid Blanchard by hitting on 8-of-10 shot attempts for 16 points to go along with his five rebounds and four assists.
The Wolverines (5-0), who trailed 29-28 at the half, opened the second period on fire as they knocked down nine of their first 11 shots on a 24-6 run to grab control of the game, 52-35, with 11:41 left. Gaines and Blanchard spurred on the run as they combined for 17 of Michigan's 24 points, including Blanchard's three three-pointers.
Michigan maintained a double-digit lead the remainder of the game, helped in large part by Peter Vignier's (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck HS) game-high 12 rebounds. Vignier also added four points and two assists.
The Wolverines started the game slowly, hitting only six of their first 20 shots and trailing by as many as seven points, 17-10 with just over 9:00 left in the half. Michigan ended the period on a better note as the Wolverines connected on seven of their final 11 shots to trail by one at the break. Blanchard and Gaines kept Michigan in the game early. Blanchard poured in seven points and grabbed five rebounds in the opening half, while Gaines had a team-high eight points at the break on 4-of-5 shooting.
The Mocs (1-4) were led by J.B. Watkins and Tim Parker, who netted 12 and 11 points, respectively. Oliver Morton, a large part of Chattanooga's first-half success with eight points and five rebounds at the break, was limited to two points and three boards in the second stanza.
Michigan returns to action on Wednesday (Dec. 8) when it hosts Kent at 7:30 p.m.
N O T E S
-- Michigan center Peter Vignier recorded his eighth career double-digit rebounding performance and his first this season.
-- The Wolverines are 3-0 when wearing their maize uniforms (and 1-0 in white, 1-0 in blue).
-- Michigan's 5-0 start is the school's best since it opened 8-0 en route to the NIT championship in 1996-97.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
