Northwestern
Michigan
Wildcats Fall to Michigan in Overtime, 70-67
2/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 15, 2009
Photo Gallery | Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. - Kevin Coble scored 23 points and hit a leaning 3-pointer at the top of the key with 19.4 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime, but Michigan still managed to pull out a 70-67 win Sunday at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Northwestern is now 13-10 on the year with a 4-8 mark in Big Ten play.
Coble played the entire 45 minutes for NU and racked up 23 points, including 12-of-13 shooting from the free throw line. His game-tying triple capped the Wildcats' rally from a five-point deficit with a 1:44 to play.
Michigan could not muster a shot on its last position of regulation, sending the game into the extra session.
In the overtime, Michigan's Manny Harris put the Wolverines in the driver's seat with eight points on two field goals and 4-of-4 free throw shooting. Harris, who entered the game averaging 17.1 points per contest, finished with a game-high 26 despite scoring just one point in the first half.
Northwestern held a lead through much of the game thanks in large part to its efforts on the glass. NU outrebounded Michigan for the game, 33-32, and collected 15 offensive rebounds that resulted in a 20-4 Northwestern advantage in second-chance points.
True freshman John Shurna paced the Wildcats with eight boards--including six on the offensive end--on his way to 17 points for the game.
Northwestern held a slim 27-25 lead entering the locker room at halftime following Shurna's 13-point first-half effort. With the Wildcats down by three following a trey by Michigan's Zack Novak, Shurna sparked NU with five straight points. The native of Glen Ellyn, Ill., had a rebound and put-back before knocking down a 3-pointer to give Northwestern a 25-23 advantage with two minutes to play.
Despite his slow first half, Harris managed to score the Wolverines' first nine points of the second session, beginning with a trey from the corner. On the next two Michigan possessions, Harris converted back-to-back three-point plays in the lane to give the visitors a 34-29 lead.
Shurna answered with a layup and point guard Michael Thompson connected on a three before Coble scored on consecutive possessions to give NU a two-point advantage, a lead it would protect for the next eight minutes.
NU is back at home at 8 p.m. Wednesday to host Ohio State in a game being televised live by the Big Ten Network.
