Wolverines’ Rally Surprises Devils Michigan Makes It 3 In Row Vs. Duke

Men’s Top 25

Top-ranked Duke, which squandered a big lead to lose to Michigan a year ago, wilted in the second half Saturday as the emotional Wolverines overcame a 17-point second-half deficit for an 81-73 victory in noisy Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Having won their first nine games by an average of 35.6 points, the Blue Devils crumbled in the final 3 minutes Saturday against a Michigan team that broke out of its early-season doldrums with a fury.

“I admire what Michigan did,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said after the Blue Devils’ first loss in 10 games this season.

Robert Traylor scored 24 points and Louis Bullock added 23 to lead Michigan (6-2), which defeated Duke for the third consective time.

Duke (9-1) opened the second half with 3-pointers by Mike Chappell and Trajan Langdon for a 52-35 lead. But the Blue Devils soon after endured a 4:39 stretch without a basket, and scored just two baskets over the final 7:46, the second with less than a second to play.

Bullock scored 17 points in the second half and Traylor had 15 over the final 20 minutes for Michigan.

Freshman Elton Brand scored 19 points for the Blue Devils.

Duke started two freshmen and a sophomore and Krzyzewski saw their lack of experience put to its most serious test of the young season.

“We need to grow some hair on our chests,” Krzyzewski said.

(2) N. Carolina 50, (22) Princeton 42

The Tar Heels (10-0) will likely move to the top of the college basketball polls after their nail-biting decision over the Tigers (7-1) at Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Tar Heels, idle for a week and playing their first home game since Nov. 22, fell behind 11-4 and trailed for all but 2 minutes of the first half.

Princeton was hurt by its outside shooting, finishing 4 for 26 from 3-point range.

(3) Kansas 103, Middle Tenn. 68

At Lawrence, Kan., Raef LaFrentz scored 20 points and Billy Thomas became Kansas’ career leader in 3-pointers as the third-ranked Jayhawks (11-1) defeated the Blue Raiders (4-2).

Kansas won its 51st consecutive home game, the longest current streak in Division I. Middle Tennessee had won four straight after an opening loss to North Carolina.

Thomas made three 3-pointers, giving him a total of 201.

(4) Kentucky 85, (24) Ga. Tech 71

At Lexington, Ky., reserve Heshimu Evans ignited a 16-5 run with six consecutive Kentucky points that helped the Wildcats (8-1) erase an 11-point deficit and defeat the Yellow Jackets (5-2).

Kentucky led by as many as 18 points, the last time at 66-48 with 8:38 left.

(6) Arizona 99, Coppin St. 82

At Tucson, Ariz., coach Lute Olson’s 350th victory at Arizona did not come easily as the Eagles (2-3) gave the Wildcats (7-2) a serious run.

Arizona, ahead by four points with 10:45 left in the game, used a 9-0 run to take a 75-62 lead and end the Eagles’ bid for a major upset.

(7) Xavier 88, Cincinnati 68

At Cincinnati, Xavier attached an exclamation point to its claim as the city’s top basketball team as the Musketeers (6-1) relied on the smothering play of their guards to defeat the Bearcats (4-2).

Lenny Brown and Gary Lumpkin each scored 23 points for Xavier.

(8) Purdue 107, San Francisco 82

At West Lafayette, Ind., Chad Austin scored 29 points to lead the Boilermakers (8-2) over the Dons (5-2) for the championship of the Boilermaker Invitational.

(10) Iowa 60, Iowa St. 59

At Ames, Iowa, Ryan Bowen scored the winning basket on a putback with 1:40 left and Guy Rucker blocked a last-second shot as the visiting Hawkeyes (7-1) defeated the Cyclones (4-3) after blowing a 12-point lead at 43-31.

Iowa overcame 28 percent second-half shooting and held on after Iowa State failed to capitalize on two chances to go ahead in the final minute.

(12) UCLA 120, CS Fullerton 91

At Los Angeles, J.R. Henderson scored 23 points and Toby Bailey 19 as the Bruins (4-1) routed the Titans (4-3).

For the first time in school history, the Bruins started four freshmen. The young lineup resulted from coach Steve Lavin yanking Henderson and Kris Johnson, both seniors, and freshman Baron Davis for being late to practice. Henderson and Johnson were tardy during the week and Davis was late to the Saturday morning shootaround.

Illinois 71, (17) Clemson 61

At Chicago, Matt Heldman scored 17 points, including 14 straight free throws, and the Illini (7-3) rallied in the second half to defeat the Tigers (5-3).

Illinois trailed by eight points in the second half and then overtook the cold-shooting Tigers, putting away the victory at the free-throw line where the Illini were 27 of 33, including 21 of 25 over the final 20 minutes.

Pacific 85, (18) Fresno State 74

At Stockton, Calif., Adam Jacobsen scored a career-high 31 points, including seven 3-pointers in the first half, and the Tigers (7-3) defeated the Bulldogs (3-3) for their 23rd consecutive home victory.

(19) Maryland 104, UMBC 66

At College Park, Md., Laron Profit scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half as the Terrapins (5-3) built a 31-point lead, then coasted past Maryland-Baltimore County (2-5).

(20) Temple 74, DePaul 43

At Philadelphia, Julian Dunkley scored 15 points and DePaul missed 20 of its first 21 shots as the Owls (6-1) took a commanding first-half lead on the way to an easy victory over the Blue Demons (3-4).

DePaul began the game 0 for 10.

(21) Mississippi 71, Wichita St. 48

At Wichita, Kan., Ansu Sesay and reserve guard Joezen Darby scored 15 points each as the Rebels (5-1) easily disposed of the Shockers (2-6).

(23) Georgia 55, East Carolina 54

At Greenville, N.C., Badi Oliver made a free throw with no time remaining and the Bulldogs (7-2) survived bad shooting and 16 turnovers to beat the Pirates (4-4).