Michigan basketball team rallies, knocks off Penn State, 64-55
Penn State's Chris Baab (10) passes over Michigan guard Zack Novak's (0) shoulder during in the first half on Thursday. (Photo: Associated Press)
On Thursday he said nothing. It changed everything.
Michigan rebounded from its worst half of the season for a come-from-behind 64-55 win over Penn State. Halftime started with Beilein looking at his team and then walking out.
What could he say? Michigan had more turnovers - 9 - than field goals - 8. It had missed all 12 of its 3-point attempts. The Wolverines scored a season-low 16 points in a half, just 2 better than in 5 minutes of overtime against Creighton and fewer than the 19 points the Wolverines scored in the final 6:15 against Ohio State on Sunday.
Penn State's David Jackson's shot is blocked as Michigan's DeShawn Sims (34) and Laval Lucas-Perry (31) defend Thursday. (Photo: Associated Press)
Beilein's silence sent a message. Change what is going on. Talk amongst yourselves. Figure it out.
“A lot of guys stepped up and talked, our captains and seniors but even some of our young guys piping up and saying stuff,” sophomore guard Zack Novak said. “We had a lot of positive things going on and I think it made a difference in the game.”
Novak said, “We can’t regress anymore.” Sims asked his team to “erase everything that happened in the first half and just to refocus.”
Coming from two of Michigan’s captains, it helped. And the Wolverines, in a situation where they could have crumbled to yet another loss to a mediocre team, didn’t.
Novak hit a jump shot on Michigan’s first possession. And when he hit a 3-pointer with 11:59 left to cut Penn State’s lead to 42-29, Michigan started to seize control.
Then junior guard Manny Harris hit a 3-pointer on the next possession and the 14 straight missed 3-pointers to start the game turned into Michigan making 7 of its final 10.
At that point, even Beilein - the silent one at the start of halftime -began to believe.
“We got it under 10 with so much time left to go,” Beilein said. “That’s hard. I’ve been in that situation where you’re up and your kids might get a little bit, I know my teams have done this, they want to get that game over with and the other team comes charging back.
“It’s hard to regain the momentum you once had.”
The rejuvenation came from the likely sources in Sims, Harris and Novak. And from an unlikely one in sophomore guard Laval Lucas-Perry, who made four 3-pointers in the final 7:26 and finished with 16 points, a big part of the 38-13 run that Michigan closed the game with. His first three-pointer cut Penn State’s lead to four, 45-41. His last effectively ended the game, giving Michigan a 60-52 lead with 2:17 left and helping to a season-best 48-point half.
“When I made that third three, I was like ‘I got to shoot it again. I need it. They need it,’” Lucas-Perry said. “I started hunting my shot more after I made those threes.”
Michigan needed it to pick up its first road win of the season, one as unlikely as the comeback win at Indiana a season ago, where it trailed by 17 points at halftime. Against Penn State (8-7, 0-3), Michigan trailed by 16 in the second half.
“This is a big win for us,” Novak said. “It showed we can fight back and that we’re not going to give up. It’s going to be good for us in the long run.”
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.
Comments
treetowncartel
Fri, Jan 8, 2010 : 4:47 p.m.
The U Conn game next week is big, if they can win that, win at least ten big 10 games and not lose in the first roubnd of the big ten tourney they should get into the big dance. I think we will see MSU and Purdue in the Big 10 final.
81wolverine
Fri, Jan 8, 2010 : 3:20 p.m.
A great win. It was bizarre though - almost like watching 2 completely different games. Michigan was as bad as I've seen them in the first half. But, it's amazing to see what a little motivation will do for this team. Maybe that's their problem for most of this season. They have a lot of difficulty motivating themselves. Who knows. But, when other players contribute, like Lucas-Perry in this game, Michigan is a much better team. Go Blue!
GoBlue2009
Fri, Jan 8, 2010 : 2:05 p.m.
I love the fact that after a win, all those nasty Spartans and Buckeyes are absent from these comments. Go Blue!
vi4mi4
Fri, Jan 8, 2010 : 9:07 a.m.
...Nice comeback! Play Hard ALL the time! Go Blue! v
chimarathon
Fri, Jan 8, 2010 : 9:02 a.m.
What is it with Jan. 7th games? 1/7/09-Come back from 20 down at Indiana 1/7/10-Come back from 16 down at PSU I don't know if my heart will be able to handle another Jan. 7th game next year
John Agno
Fri, Jan 8, 2010 : 7:35 a.m.
Too bad that the only Michigan player that is ALWAYS in the game 100% is Zack Novak. Why doesn't the b-ball coaching staff insist on their players in the game play as hard and focused as Zack from the tip off forward?
wersch213
Fri, Jan 8, 2010 : 1:07 a.m.
GO BLUE! A road win in the Big 10 is excellent no matter how they come. Bring on the wildcats
bigtenknight
Fri, Jan 8, 2010 : 12:04 a.m.
Tater, many have not jumped off the bandwagon...they just jumped ship to the vessel that will lead the mighty Wolverines to the NIT promised land. Congrats on rallying to beat an average team on the road. If only you could have beaten another average team on the road, you'd be unbeaten in conference. Silly Wolverines, basketball is for Spartans.
1989NCAACHAMPS
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 11:44 p.m.
Good Win! Team Stayed With the Game Plan. Improvement is being made with the on court chemistry. Nice passing and they cut down turnovers in 2nd quarter. Lack of size will always be a problem, but sharp execution on the offensive in, and scrappy defense will win a lot of games. GO BLUE!!!
guns4me
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 11:04 p.m.
M 7th in big 10.It was Penn st.
aareader
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 11 p.m.
Coach B WOW! You let the guys grow, take ownership and allowed them to control their own destiny. A great experienced coach set the stage for them to shine. Go B, Go Blue!!!
Macabre Sunset
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 10:17 p.m.
That was odd. It sounded like a morgue out there after Michigan took a few points out of that big lead. Any Big Ten road win is a nice effort. I wish this team were more consistent. It will need to be more consistent to avoid equally damaging losses at home. Big game from Sims. He definitely kept Michigan in it while the rest of the team took 20 minutes off.
2sweetblue
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 9:53 p.m.
Great win but we still going to miss the dance we gotta win like 12-14 more ball games. I hate how we always rely on Manny that poor guy does everything for us!!
azwolverine
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 9:53 p.m.
Two in a row, nice job! It scares me that they live and die so much by the three (as this game indicated both ends of the spectrum) but hopefully these last two are a sign they are getting it going. Go Blue!!!
wersch213
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 9:48 p.m.
Next 3 games are at home...let's keep up the momentum Big Blue!
tulsatom
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 9:44 p.m.
Whatever Coach B said to the team at halftime --- they ought to bottle it!
Snaker
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 9:26 p.m.
Way to stick with it and not give up BLUE!!!
orlandomichfan
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 9:16 p.m.
GREAT GREAT WIN!!!!!!!!!WHAT A COMEBACK..GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!