Wolverines Stronger Than Wildcats
Jerod Ward scored 19 points and No. 18 Michigan rallied from a late 12-point deficit to beat Northwestern 74-67 Thursday night.
Louis Bullock added 15 points for the Wolverines (17-6, 7-3 Big Ten), who trailed 52-40 with about nine minutes left before sending the Wildcats into a scoring drought.
After Joe Harmsen's 3-pointer gave Northwestern its 12-point lead, the Wildcats (8-11, 1-8) went 6:26 without a field goal and made only half of eight free throws as Michigan went on an 18-4 run.
Two free throws from Julian Bonner brought Northwestern to a 58-58 tie. But Bullock's 3-pointer seconds later put the Wolverines ahead for good, and Michigan made seven of eight free throws to preserve its lead.
The Wolverines made 21 of 28 free throws compared to the Wildcats' 12-for-24 showing.
Maceo Baston and Robert Traylor each scored 10 points each for Michigan.
Freshman Sean Wink led Northwestern with 18 points. Evan Eschmeyer, the Big Ten's scoring leader, had 15 points before fouling out with 1:32 remaining and his team behind 67-62. Bonner had 11 points.
Northwestern led 34-27 at the break by containing Michigan's big front line. Traylor and Baston, who stand 6-8 and 6-9, respectively, were each held to just four points and one rebound.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, shot 61 percent as Eschmeyer worked his way inside for 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting.
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