UW’s Road To Win Blocked Michigan’s Baston Swats Away Huskies’ Last Second-Jumper
Maceo Baston knew the game would come down to him, and it did. It wasn’t the first time.
And, again he responded.
Baston, who had a career-high 26 points a week earlier against Duke, scored 23 points and made the key defensive block in Michigan’s 60-59 victory over Washington on Saturday.
Baston swatted away a last-second jumper by Bryant Boston as time expired.
“I just kind of read it,” Baston said. “He had three or four in a row that he had made, so I knew he was going to take the last shot. I knew he was hot, so I stepped up, got a piece of it, and blocked it.”
The Wolverines (8-2), who had an emotional 88-84 victory over Duke one week earlier, were trying to get their game faces back on. The players had been off five days for final exams and it showed. It was sloppy basketball.
“I knew it was going to be a hard game,” Michigan coach Steve Fisher said. “I didn’t realize it would be so difficult.”
Facing a Michigan lineup with three 6-foot-9 players across the front line, the Huskies (3-2) started a lineup with two 7-footers and a 6-8 forward.
But what both teams needed most was some shooting. Michigan won despite shooting just 40 percent (21 of 53) and missing 17-of-32 free throws. The Huskies outrebounded Michigan 42-34 but turned the ball over 27 times. Washington shot 42 percent (22 of 52).
Boston had 13 points for the Huskies. Todd MacCulloch, a 7-foot freshman, added 12 for Washington. Michigan was forced to play most of the second half without Maurice Taylor, who drew his fourth foul with 14:19 remaining. Taylor finished with only seven points and three rebounds.
“It was just one of those games,” Boston said. “I thought we played soft. We passed the ball soft in the first half.”
Louis Bullock, who finished with 10 points, hit a 3-pointer with 15:49 left in the game. But the Huskies, getting a three-point play by Jamie Booker and a 3-point basket by Jason Hartman, outscored the Wolverines 15-7 to tie it 46-46 with 8:03 remaining.
“I’m proud of the way we played,” Washington coach Bob Bender said. “I’m disappointed we didn’t get the win.”
Michigan, getting six more points from Baston, went ahead 57-50 with 4:28 remaining. The Huskies came back to tie it. Boston had five points, including a trey, and MacCulloch tied it 59-59 on a layup with 1:05 left.
Travis Conlan, who was fouled by Mark Sanford, sank the first of two free throws with 52 seconds remaining for what proved to be the margin of victory.
“You have to give credit to Michigan,” Bender said. “They kept scrambling and found a way to win.”
But it wasn’t easy. After Bullock was called for traveling after a steal under the Huskies basket, Washington had the ball with 30.1 seconds showing.
The Huskies ran down the clock, setting up Boston for the final shot. But his jumper with 3 seconds remaining had barely cleared his fingertips when Baston slapped it away.
“I had shot the pullup over Conlan through out the second half,” Boston said. “I got it off again, and I saw it heading backwards.”
Baston leaped for joy as the game ended.
“It was a disappointing way to lose a game. That’s the play we wanted. We got it in the guy’s hand that we wanted to,” Bender said.
Michigan 60, Washington 59
Washington (3-2) - Sanford 3-10 1-2 7, Femerling 1-2 0-0 2, MacCulloch 5-9 2-2 12, Hamilton 2-4 3-5 8, Boston 5-14 2-3 13, Amos 3-4 0-0 6, Booker 2-3 1-1 5, Hartman 1-3 1-2 4, Lopez 0-0 0-0 0, Watts 0-3 2-2 2. Totals 22-52 12-17 59.
Michigan (7-2) - Taylor 3-10 1-5 7, Ward 1-6 2-4 4, Baston 7-12 9-11 23, Conlan 2-7 3-6 8, Bullock 4-9 0-1 10, Fife 1-2 0-0 2, White 3-7 0-5 6, Morton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-53 15-32 60.
Halftime-Michigan 27, Washington 20. 3-point goals- Washington 3-8 (Hamilton 1-1, Hartman 1-1, Boston 1-2, Watts 0-1, Sanford 0-3) Michigan 3-13 (Bullock 2-4, Conlan 1-5, White 0-1, Ward 0-3). Fouled out-Femerling. Rebounds-Washington 42 (MacCulloch 12), Michigan 34 (Baston 10). Assists- Washington 9 (Amos 3), Michigan 9 (Conlan 4). Total fouls- Washington 26, Michigan 16. A-12,998.