Feb 21, 2012; Evanston, IL, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Trey Burke (3) controls the ball as he is defended by Northwestern Wildcats forward Davide Curletti (30) and guard Alex Marcotullio (back) during the first half at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Giglio-US PRESSWIRE
Northwestern played No. 11 Michigan even for 40 minutes but couldn't recover when the Wolverines opened overtime with consecutive three-pointers from Trey Burke, Zack Novak and Stu Douglass.
The Wolverines spent the rest of the period bleeding the clock and shooting free throws, eventually winning, 67-55, with a margin of victory that belies just how competitive this game was for most of the night.
It was a fitting ending for Michigan, who relied on the long ball all night long -- including long-distance buckets from Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. in the final minutes of regulation to send the game to overtime. As a team, the Wolverines shot 14-for-38 from beyond the arc, with long balls accounting for the majority of their 56 field-goal attempts on the night.
Burke led all scorers with 19 points. Hardaway Jr. added 14 points, and Douglass 12. For the Wildcats, John Shurna scored 14, with Reggie Hearn notching a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Michigan has won four in a row, improving to 21-7 on the season and 11-4 in the Big Ten, one-half game back of Michigan State for the conference lead. Northwestern, meanwhile, fell to 16-11 and 6-9 in conference play. The Wildcats have never been to the NCAA Tournament, and barring an unlikely turn of events, they'll probably have to wait at least another year.
For more on this game, visit Michigan blog Maize n Brew and Northwestern blog Sippin' On Purple.
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