Jan 18, 2003
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Freshman Daniel Horton scored 22 points as Michigan overcame a 10-point deficit early in the second half to win its 11th straight, 77-70, over Northwestern on Saturday.
Michigan (11-6, 4-0 Big Ten) has won 11 in a row after starting the season with six straight losses, its longest winning streak since the 1992-93 season. The Wolverines, who started three freshmen, are also 4-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since 1985-86.
Northwestern (8-7, 0-4) opened up the second half with a 10-point advantage on an alley-oop dunk by Jitim Young off a pass from T.J. Parker, and Welsh-Ryan Arena was as loud as it has been all season.
The Wildcats were unable to keep the momentum from that play, though. They scored just three points over the next five minutes as Michigan went on a 13-3 run that ended with Lester Abram's back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game at 45.
"Michigan did a nice job of hanging in there after being down eight at the half," said NU head coach Bill Carmody. "For us to win that game, we needed to keep that lead for a little longer. Within a minute they had the lead down to four, and they didn't feel like they were out of the game."
The Wildcats regained the lead briefly on an Aaron Jennings free throw. But LaVell Blanchard responded for the Wolverines with a pair of free throws and a three-pointer to spark a 12-4 run that gave Michigan a seven-point lead midway through the second half.
Northwestern cut the lead to two on a Parker layup, but Horton made a long trey on Michigan's next possession and later added a jumper to extend the Wolverines' lead to nine.
Horton, averaging 15.6 points a game, scored 11 of Michigan's 14 points at one point in the second half and made 6-of-13 three-point attempts. The freshman guard also dished out five assists.
"Horton is a good player," said Carmody. "He hit some threes at the top when guys were with him, and it's hard to identify him all the time."
Blanchard added 19 points and nine rebounds for Michigan.
Trailing 26-25 in the first half, Horton stole the ball and drove the length of the court and was fouled by Parker. A complaining Parker was then called for a technical foul. Bernard Robinson Jr. made both foul shots on the technical, but Horton missed his free throws.
Instead of Michigan taking advantage of the technical foul, the call appeared to inspire Northwestern.
The Wildcats outscored Michigan 15-6 the rest of the way. Winston Blake scored six straight during the run that ended with Mohamed Hachad's backdoor layup to make it 40-32 at the half.
Parker and Young had 20 points each for Northwestern, while Blake and Jennings had nine apiece.
Northwestern is off for a week before returning to Big Ten play with a game next Saturday at Minnesota. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. in Minneapolis.