Michigan
13-12, 6-7
Illinois
17-8, 7-5
U-M Relinquishes Regulation Lead, Loses in OT at Illinois
2/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2015
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| Postgame Report 
Site: Champaign, Ill. (State Farm Center)
Score: Illinois 64, Michigan 52 (OT)
Records: U-M (13-12, 6-7 Big Ten), ILL (17-8, 7-5 Big Ten)
Attendance: 17,087
Next U-M Event: Tuesday, Feb. 17 -- Michigan State (Crisler Center), 9 p.m. [ TV: ESPN ]
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- After faltering in the waning minutes and losing its lead late in the second half, the University of Michigan men's basketball team fell in overtime today (Thursday, Feb. 12) at Illinois, 64-52, at the State Farm Center.
With the Wolverines up seven with less than three minutes left, the Fighting Illini rallied, sending the game into overtime as U-M failed to score over the final 3:13 of the half. In the second extra period game of the season between Michigan and Illinois, the Fighting Illini held the Wolverines to just two points, outscoring U-M, 14-2, and going on for the win to snap an eight-game losing streak to the Maize and Blue. Illinois outscored U-M, 21-2, over the final eight minutes of the game.
Junior guard Spike Albrecht led the Wolverines, posting his fourth straight game scoring in double figures with a team-best 13 points as he tied a career best with six field goals made while adding five assists and playing a career-high 42 minutes. Senior forward Max Bielfeldt followed with 12 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore guard Zak Irvin was held to eight points.
Michigan and Illinois could not find the basket after the tip as both teams were a combined 0-for-10 during the first four minutes of the game. Kameron Chatman finally snapped the games scoreless drought as he hit a pair of free throws. Illinois tied the game a minute later on a Leron Black put back. Black's bucket spurred the Illini on as they went on an 8-4 run to build 10-6 lead going into the game's first media timeout.
Coming out of the timeout, Bielfeldt keyed a U-M a 6-0 run, forcing Illinois coach John Groce to call a timeout. Bielfeldt had two inside buckets, two rebounds and a steal during the run as well, helping clear the way for a 16-foot jumper by Aubrey Dawkins as U-M reclaimed the lead, 14-10.
As the first half continued to grind along with miss opportunities on both ends, Illinois went cold, going 0-for-7, but U-M could not take advantage as the Wolverines could only extend their lead to, 22-16, with two minutes remaining. Illinois' John Starks helped bring the crowd back into the game as he scored four of his nine first-half points, draining a jumper and following with a steal and lay-in to cut the lead to just two, 22-20, with 50 seconds remaining. The half ended with the Wolverines carrying a two-point lead, as they held the Illini to their lowest-scoring half of the season.
After Illinois' Jaylon Tate quickly tied the game after intermission, the Wolverines went on an 8-0 run -- highlighted by an Albrecht nifty layup and another inside bucket from Bielfeldt. After a near three-and-a half minute Illini scoreless drought, Kendrick Nunn drained a three-pointer as the shot clock expired to cut into U-M's lead.
However, Irvin responded on the other end with a triple of his own. Not to be outdone, Nunn came right back down and nailed his second straight long range bucket. As the flow picked up, U-M countered as Dawkins drained his first three-pointer of the game as the Wolverines maintained their eight-point advantage, 36-28.
Illinois used a 5-0 run to cut its deficit to three, 40-35, before Albrecht made a circus shot after losing control of the ball midway up on his lay-up attempt. Following another media timeout, both teams' offensive games caught fire. An Irvin three-pointer was answered by a Malcolm Hill three on the other end, and a Bielfeldt mid-range jumper was balanced by a Tate bucket.
Despite the back-and-forth play, U-M held on to a six-point lead, 48-42 with four minutes left.
After Albrecht put the Wolverines back up five, Illinois capitalized on two missed U-M baskets to make a jumper and follow with a three-pointer to tie the game, 50-50, with 15.1 seconds remaining. With three fouls to give, Illinois used all three to stop the clock with 4.5 seconds remaining. After a Beilein timeout, U-M could not inbound the ball as a scrum for the ball ended up as a U-M foul. Illinois' last-second attempt fell short, sending the game into overtime.
Illinois took advantage in the extra period early, scoring the first six points to take a commanding lead, 56-50. After three Wolverine turnovers, the Illini put the game away, holding the Maize and Blue to just two points in overtime.
Michigan will have a weekend bye before heading into a key home week as the Wolverines host rivals Michigan State and Ohio State. U-M will begin the week hosting the Spartans on Tuesday (Feb. 17) at Crisler Center and a 9 p.m. tipoff. The game will be part of ESPN's Super Tuesday package. The game will be second regular-season matchup after the two teams played a little more than two weeks ago. In a game featuring 21 lead changes, U-M battled rival MSU down to the wire on Feb. 1 and forced overtime at the Breslin Center before losing in the extra period, 76-66.
Communications Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
