MINNEAPOLIS - Zack Gibson hadn’t attempted a three-pointer in almost two months. He hadn’t made one in even longer.

When he was reminded of this after Michigan’s 71-63 win over Minnesota on Thursday night, he just laughed. There wasn’t much else the soft-spoken Gibson could say.

The fifth-year senior forward’s minutes have trended downward throughout the season.

He hadn’t played double-digit minutes almost the entire Big Ten season - he had 18 in a blowout loss to Northwestern on Feb. 2 - and as DeShawn Sims’ play improved there wasn’t room for him in a significant role in the rotation.

Yet when Michigan coach John Beilein benched Sims for almost eight minutes early Thursday, Gibson took his opportunity.

He made a three-pointer from the left wing to break his two-month long streak without a three. Then he maybe the shot of the game - a three-pointer from the top of the key out of a timeout to give Michigan a 47-38 lead.

“I was open and I know I can shoot three’s,” Gibson said. “I do it every day in practice and I haven’t had an opportunity but I stayed confident and once it went in it got everything going and I made a couple shots.”

Gibson had eight points Thursday - the most he’s scored since Dec. 2 against Boston College when he had nine - and became a key contributor to a rare road win for Michigan.

“Zack Gibson just played exceptional,” Sims said.

Growth of the guards

All season long, Michigan has been searching for some sort of answer at point guard to replace departed seniors C.J. Lee and David Merritt.

With almost the entire season done, the Wolverines might have finally seen an answer for the future on Thursday - and it involves multiple players.

Michigan only turned the ball over twice in the second half, even as Minnesota placed pressure in the backcourt on the Wolverines’ inexperienced guards. Handling the ball the most was freshman Darius Morris, who finished the game with five assists and two turnovers. Sophomore Stu Douglass had four assists and no turnovers.

“Both of our guards grew up a lot tonight,” Beilein said. “Both Douglass and Morris.”

Michigan also saw flashes of a point guard out of junior guard Manny Harris, who had seven assists and two turnovers.

He also penetrated and passed well, often finding Sims, who led Michigan with 27 points.

“I feel comfortable with it, feel good with it,” Harris said. “That’s what we worked for, to make plays.”

Tournament hopes crushed
Entering Thursday, Minnesota knew it was on the bubble - at best - to make the NCAA tournament.

By 8 p.m. central time on Thursday night, the Gophers knew their options for making the NCAAs as an at-large had taken a serious blow with a loss to a .500 team in Michigan.

When asked if winning out was Minnesota’s only option for making the tournament, Gophers guard Paul Carter summed it up succinctly.

“Definitely,” he said. “Definitely.”

This and that
Michigan got only eight points out of its bench - all from Gibson. ... Michigan's 11 steals are the most since the Wolverines got 11 against Indiana on Jan. 14. ... The Wolverines' 68 percent shooting in the second half was the best half of the season.

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