Michigan
Illinois
Michigan Nets Second Straight Big Ten Overtime Win
1/16/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Freshman LaVell Blanchard (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) paced the Michigan win with 22 points, including 11-of-11 from the free throw line, and nine rebounds. Josh Asselin (Caro, Mich./Caro HS) chipped in with a double-double in points (13) and rebounds (10), with all of his rebounds coming in the second half.
Michigan got on the board first on a three from Leon Jones (Battle Creek, Mich./Winchendon Prep) and took an early 6-0 lead after a breakaway dunk by Brandon Smith (Amarillo, Texas/Palo Duro HS). Illinois (9-6, 1-3 Big Ten) got its first basket at the 16:55 mark of the first half and continued on an 18-4 run to lead by as much as six at 18-10.
Buoyed by nine straight points from Blanchard, Michigan cut the deficit to three at 20-17 with 9:45 left in the first half. Michigan continued its run and cut the lead to one at 26-25 following three free throws by freshman guard Kevin Gaines (Las Vegas, Nev./Clark HS). Michigan and Illinois went back and forth throughout the rest of the first half with the Fighting Illini maintaining its lead, but never by more than four. Michigan went into the halftime intermission trailing 38-34. Michigan was paced in the first half by Blanchard, who led the Wolverines with 14 points and five rebounds.
Michigan began the second half much like the first and scored the first five points of the stanza for a 39-38 lead, its first since leading 8-7 at the 14:33 mark of the first half. Asselin came up with a conventional three-point play on a dunk and free throw to key the Michigan run. Illinois, however, came back with a 10-2 run of its own to push its lead back up to seven at 48-41.
Michigan's freshman backcourt of Gaines and Jamal Crawford (Renton, Wash./Rainier Beach HS) delivered three consecutive triples, including two from Crawford, to give Michigan the lead back, 49-48. After Illinois regained the lead 53-50, Michigan took the lead back 57-55 after Gaines' second triple of the half. With the Wolverines leading 64-61, Crawford converted a steal into a breakaway dunk and keyed a run which gave Michigan its biggest lead of the game 70-63.
After Illinois came back to knot the contest at 74-all, Asselin scored on putback to open a 6-0 Michigan run. However, Illinois again fought back and tied the game at 80. Illinois gained possession of the ball with the score tied at 82 and 26 seconds left but could not convert against tough Michigan defense.
Illinois opened the extra session with a three-point play, but Michigan answered with one of its own from Crawford. The two teams went back and forth before the Wolverines were able to gain their first lead of the overtime, 91-89 on a pair of free throws from Gavin Groninger (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield HS).
After Illinois tied it up at 91, an Asselin dunk on a pass from Gaines gave Michigan the lead 93-91. Michigan got a defensive stop, and a Crawford free throw gave Michigan a 94-91 lead with 0:17 remaining. The Wolverines strong defense continued and held Illinois scoreless the rest of the way, giving Michigan a 95-91 win.
The Wolverines return to the Crisler Arena hardwood on Wednesday (Jan. 19), hosting Northwestern for an 8 p.m. tipoff.
N O T E S
Michigan set a school record for free throws made with 37 on 45 attempts. The Wolverines shot .822 for the game from the stripe. The previous record for free throws made was 34, set last season at Eastern Michigan (12/9/98).
LaVell Blanchard tied the Michigan school record for free throw percentage in a game with a perfect 1.000 on 11-of-11. It marked the eighth time that a Wolverine has been perfect on 11 or more attempts in a game.
Josh Asselin's double-double in points (13) and rebounds (10) was his second of the season. He had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the season opener against Oakland (Nov. 19)
Michigan had five players score in double figures. In addition to LaVell Blanchard's 22 and Josh Asselin's 13, Kevin Gaines notched 18 points, Jamal Crawford recorded 14 and Leon Jones registered 10.
The last time Michigan won in overtime in back to back games was in 1992-93 vs. Michigan State (3/7/93) and Illinois (3/10/93).
The last time Michigan went into overtime in back-to-back games was in 1993-94 vs. Northwestern (3/12/94) and Pepperdine (3/17/94) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Michigan lost to Northwestern and beat Pepperdine.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
