Michigan
2-0
Bowling Green
1-2
Wolverines Thrash Bowling Green in Legends Classic Opener
11/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2010
Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery 
• Audio: Head Coach John Beilein 
• Video: RS Freshman Jordan Morgan 
| Freshman Evan Smotrycz | Highlights
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Arena)
Score: Michigan 69, Bowling Green 50
Records: U-M (2-0), Bowling Green (1-2)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Nov. 21 -- vs. Gardner-Webb (Crisler Arena), 2 p.m. ET (TV: BigTenNetwork.com)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In their first game of the Ann Arbor regional round of the Legends Classic, the University of Michigan men's basketball team (2-0) knocked off Bowling Green, 69-50, on Thursday night (Nov. 18) inside Crisler Arena. Freshman forward Evan Smotrycz (Reading, Mass./New Hampton Prep [N.H.]), led the Wolverines with 14 points and seven rebounds, while redshirt freshman forward Jordan Morgan (Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) added 12 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore point guard Darius Morris (Los Angeles, Calif./Windward) was aggressive from the opening tip, dishing out a career-high 11 assists to go along with six points.
The Wolverines dominated on both ends of the floor, finishing 26-of-54 (48 percent) from the floor and 8-of-17 (47 percent) from behind the three-point line. They outrebounded Bowling Green 43-30. In addition, the Michigan offense delivered a balanced scoring attack as 11 players registered field goals in the game, with 22 points coming off the bench and 15 points off offensive rebounds.
U-M scorched the nets in the first half, shooting 56 percent (15-of-27) from the field, with eight players recording at least one field goal. Freshman guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (Miami, Fla./Palmetto Senior) exited the game after just two minutes of play due to foul trouble, but the Michigan bench picked him up, accounting for 14 points in the half.
Ignited by a block in transition from junior guard Zack Novak (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton), Michigan went on a 11-4 run to finish the half after leading by only a point with 3:18 left to end the period. A three-pointer from sophomore guard Matt Vogrich (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) followed, then Morris found Morgan under the basket for a reverse layup. Back-to-back three-pointers from Smotrycz ended the half, as Michigan went into the locker room with a 39-31 halftime lead.
An 11-1 run for the Wolverines out of the locker room set the tone for the rest of the game, as Bowling Green was held without a field goal for the first 7:29 of the second half. The Maize and Blue led by 20 at two points in the game. Another big block by Novak brought the Crisler Arena crowd to its feet, as Michigan went on to win 69-50.
Michigan returns to action this Sunday (Nov. 21) when it hosts Gardner-Webb in their second game of the Legends Classic. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
