INDIANAPOLIS - It was almost a great day for the lower seeds at the Big Ten Conference
tournament.
Instead, the underdogs will have to settle for two out of three wins.
Ninth-seeded Michigan and No. 10 seed Illinois pulled off upsets but sixth-seeded Minnesota
rallied from a 16-point first-half deficit to put away No. 11 seed Northwestern in the nightcap at
Conseco Fieldhouse.
INDIANAPOLIS - One team went 10 minutes without a field goal. The other 16 minutes.
The first game of the Big Ten Conference tournament wasn't a work of art. Thanks to freshman Manny Harris, eighth-seeded Michigan generated enough offense to get past No. 9 seed Iowa 55-47 at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Harris scored 12 of his 19 points in the first half as the Wolverines built a 34-25 halftime lead. After Michigan scored two quick baskets to open the second half, to go ahead by 14 points, this game was basically over.
The Wolverines' defense limited the Hawkeyes to 31.9 percent shooting (15 of 47) and held them without a field goal for 16 minutes. Iowa also made just 2 of 17 from 3-point range.
Michigan also forced 15 turnovers, resulting in 17 points.
"We came in with the mindset that we had play to defense in order to get a victory," Harris said. "We did a good job of defending the 3."
The Wolverines shot just 37.3 percent from the field but relied on their defense to win this game. Michigan will face top-seeded Wisconsin in Friday's first quarterfinal.
"We went out and played tenacious defense," said sophomore DeShawn Sims, who finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. "We held ourselves accountable for our man."
Cyrus Tate led the Hawkeyes, who finished 13-19, with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
INDIANAPOLIS - Michigan advances to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament with a 55-47 victory over Iowa at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Next up for the Wolverines is top-seeded Wisconsin on Friday.
Freshman Manny Harris led Michigan with 19 points and sophomore DeShawn Sims added 14 points and 10 rebounds. Cyrus Tate had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Hawkeyes, who end their season at 13-19.
INDIANAPOLIS - With about five minutes to go, Michigan is still leading 46-36. The Wolverines, though, are not in control.
Although Iowa hasn't made a strong run, Michigan can't seem to pull away. Both teams are spinning their wheels, one reason why the Big Ten hasn't received a lot of respect nationally.
INDIANAPOLIS - Not much has changed at the Big Ten tournament. Michigan is still ahead, leading 44-30 at the 12-minute media timeout.
Sophomore DeShawn Sims has come on strong for the Wolverines with seven points and five rebounds in the second half. That gives Sims a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Hawkeyes can't seem to get anything going.
INDIANAPOLIS - Not even a minute has expired in the second half and Iowa was forced to call a timeout after Michigan scored two quick baskets.
The Wolverines now lead 39-25. It doesn't look good for Iowa at this point.
INDIANAPOLIS - It's halftime of our first game in the Big Ten Conference tournament and Michigan is leading 34-25.
The Hawkeyes, who trailed 25-11, pulled within 32-25 on Justin Johnson's 3-pointer with 19 seconds on the clock. However, Zach Gibson's rebound basket at the buzzer pushed Michigan's lead to nine points.
Super freshman Manny Harris leads the Wolverines with 12 points, including 10 during the first eight minutes.
The winner advances to face top-seeded Wisconsin on Friday in the quarterfinals.
