Michigan
5-15, 1-7
Michigan State
18-2, 6-1
Michigan Drops Road Contest to No. 10 Michigan State
1/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Site: East Lansing, Mich. (Breslin Center)
Score: #10 Michigan State 77, Michigan 62
Records: U-M (5-15, 1-7 Big Ten), Michigan State (18-2, 6-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Thursday, Jan. 31 -- vs. Minnesota (Crisler Arena), 7 p.m.
Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Photo Gallery
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's basketball team lost to rival No. 10-ranked Michigan State, 77-62, Sunday (Jan. 27) in the Breslin Center. The Wolverines came out strong in the first half, leading at one occasion, but the Spartans' depth and hot shooting took control of the second half to make it difficult for Michigan to come back. Michigan's bench scoring was a key contributor, as the U-M reserves scored 30 points led by sophomore/freshman Anthony Wright(Sterling, Va./Oak Hill Academy) and junior/sophomore Zack Gibson(Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS), who combined for 19 points, six rebounds and two blocks.
Wright and freshman Manny Harris(Detroit, Mich./Redford HS) were the leading scorers for the Wolverines with 11 points apiece. Junior Jevohn Shepherd(Toronto, Ontario, Canada/West Hills Collegiate) added nine.
The Wolverines scored their first basket on a tip-in by sophomore Ekpe Udoh(Edmond, Okla./Santa Fe HS) after a six-minute drought, which ended a 8-0 run by the Spartans to open the game. Michigan responded to State's offensive efforts with a 12-0 run of its own via three-pointers by Senior Ron Coleman (Romulus, Mich./Romulus HS), Harris, and two from Wright. This three-point explosion gave Michigan its first lead of the game at 14-11. A Gibson lay up gave the Wolverines a five-point lead, 19-14, which was Michigan's largest lead of the game. The Spartans took control of the scoreboard for the remainder of the stanza, but a dunk by Harris capped off the first half and the Wolverines entered the locker room trailing 35-27.
The second half opened with an early 10-1 run by the Spartans -- a run stopped by a fast-break lay up by Shepherd. Sophomore DeShawn Sims(Detroit, Mich./Pershing HS) added six points in the half and Gibson came off the bench to tally back-to-back baskets, trimming the Spartans lead to 10, 49-39, at the 12-minute mark. The teams continued to exchange baskets, but the Wolverines could not make up the deficit and Michigan State extended its lead and won the contest, 77-62.
After playing five of their first eight Big Ten games on the road, the Wolverines will return to Crisler Arena to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their home gym Thursday (Jan. 31) against Minnesota. The Maize and Blue will welcome back Cazzie Russell, Rudy Tomjanovich and members of the 1967-68 squad for a pregame and halftime celebration. Tipoff against the Gophers is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
