Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan
Men's Basketball Edged by Michigan, 61-55
2/26/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 26, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill. - Sophomore forward Tavaras Hardy (Joliet, Ill./Providence) scored a career-high 25 points and led a furious Wildcat comeback in the second half, but Michigan was able to hold on for a 61-55 overtime victory at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
After jumping out to an early 5-2 lead, Northwestern lost its shooting touch. The Wolverines capitalized, running off 10 straight points as part of a 15-2 run and opened up a 17-7 lead at the 8:11 mark. NU's shooting woes continued as Michigan took a 31-15 lead into intermission.
Northwestern turned things around in the second half. The 'Cats pounded the ball inside to Hardy and freshman Aaron Jennings (Atkins, Iowa/Benton Community), opening the half with a 10-3 spurt to cut the deficit to nine (34-25) with 15:07 left. The teams traded baskets for the next six minutes before NU tightened the screws defensively, holding Michigan to three points over the next eight minutes. The Wildcats took advantage, rattling off 10 straight points to tie the game at 45 on an acrobatic alley-oop layup by Hardy.
Michigan's Gavin Groninger split a pair of free throws with 18 seconds left to push the Wolverine lead to two (49-47) before Hardy calmly converted a pair from the line with 1.6 seconds left to send the game to overtime.
Jennings scored the first basket of overtime, but Michigan countered by running off five quick points. Kevin Gaines' three-pointer capped the spurt which gave Michigan the lead for good (55-53).
Hardy recorded his fourth double-double of the season, grabbing 11 rebounds to go with his 25 points. Jennings added 17 points, one off his career-high. Groninger led Michigan with 14 points.
Northwestern returns to action on Wed., March 1, at 7 p.m. against Wisconsin for its final home game of the season.
