Northwestern
Michigan
Men's Basketball Defeats Michigan, 75-70
2/28/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2001
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Winston Blake tied a career high with 23 points and Ben Johnson added 20 Wednesday as Northwestern beat Michigan 75-70 for its first road victory in three seasons.
Northwestern hadn't won on the road since beating Penn State 71-67 on Feb. 6, 1999. Since then, the Wildcats had lost 23 straight road games, including 18 in a row in the Big Ten.
Tavarus Hardy scored 16 points for the Wildcats before fouling out with 4:05 remaining. Aaron Jennings replaced him and scored seven of Northwestern's last 11 points.
Northwestern improved to 3-13 in the Big Ten and 11-18 overall. Michigan, which was led by LaVell Blanchard's 29 points, fell to 4-11 and 10-16.
The Wildcats, who trailed 32-29 at halftime, scored the first nine points of the second half to go ahead 38-32. Michigan tied the game at 41-41 when Bernard Robinson Jr. grabbed a rebound and went the length of the court for a layup. But moments later, Blake hit a three-point basket to put Northwestern back in front to stay.
The Wildcats were leading 54-47 when Michigan's Josh Moore was called for traveling, nullifying a basket. Wolverines coach Brian Ellerbe protested and received a technical foul from referee Rick Hartzell. Johnson hit both free throws.
After Northwestern got the ball out of bounds, Blake hit another three-pointer, his 12th in two games against Michigan this year, to put the Wildcats ahead 57-47 with 8:12 left.
A pair of free throws by Chris Young with 2:16 left brought the Wolverines within two, 65-63, but Jennings made two free throws and scored on a layup to boost the Wildcats' lead back to six with 1:08 remaining.
Northwestern had the biggest lead of the first half, 15-10 with 10:46 to play, after a 7-0 run that was triggered by one of Blake's three three-point baskets of the half.
The first half featured seven lead changes and eight ties and excellent shooting by each team.
Northwestern hit 50 percent of its shots from the field, while the Wolverines connected on 54 percent.
Robinson Jr. finished with 14 points for Michigan, which hadn't lost to the Wildcats at Crisler Arena since 1981.
Northwestern has now completed the regular season. The Wildcats will be the 11th seed going into the Big Ten Tournament, which will begin next Thursday (March 8) at the United Center in Chicago.
