• Recap
• Bleachers

Michigan snaps skid with win over Michigan State

Jan 28, 2011 - 6:08 AM East Lansing, MI (Sports Network) - Michigan and Michigan State both came into the Breslin Center reeling, and surprisingly it was the former that righted the ship, as the Wolverines got 19 points from Zack Novak and 17 from Darius Morris to drop the 25th-ranked Spartans, 61-57.

Michigan (12-9, 2-6 Big Ten) drained 10 three-pointers -- six coming from Novak -- to snap a six-game losing streak and an 11-game skid at the Breslin Center.

Morris added eight assists and Tim Hardaway, Jr. logged 10 points and eight rebounds for the Wolverines, who earned their first win since topping Penn State on January 2.

"We sing the fight song after every win and that was a very sweet fight song we just sang," rejoiced Michigan head coach John Beilein following the signature win. "I don't look at it as a monkey off our backs but I'm sure there are a lot of people that feel really good about winning up here."

Kalin Lucas carried the load with 27 points for the Spartans (12-8, 4-4), losers of three straight and four of six overall.

On paper, the matchup with Michigan was the perfect remedy for Tom Izzo's club, which has owned its rival at home and won 18 of the previous 21 meetings.

The Wolverines had other ideas, though, leading the entire second half and holding off a furious rally from the preseason conference favorites.

"A very disappointing game for us," said Izzo, "but give Michigan credit -- they hit some big shots and tough shots."

The home crowd got back into it when Keith Appling capped an 8-0 run to cut Michigan State's deficit to 55-50 with 4:41 remaining.

Stu Douglass briefly stopped the momentum with tough fadeaway near the foul line, and the Spartans appeared finished after Lucas missed a point-blank layup on MSU's next possession.

But the former Big Ten Player of the Year still had something left, hitting a jumper and converting a three-point play to pull within 57-55 with 1:47 to go.

The teams traded missed three-pointers, with Appling's open try from the right corner rolling in-and-out as the final minute approached.

With the shot clock winding down on Michigan, Douglass spotted up from behind the arc and drilled a back-breaking three for a 60-55 game with 22 seconds showing.

Draymond Green, Lucas and Appling all missed threes the next time down, though Green got one to fall following a third offensive rebound. However, the make came with just 2.7 seconds showing, and Morris' free throw shortly thereafter sealed Michigan's unlikely victory.

The Spartans scored the first six points of the game, but were quickly countered by the streaky shooting of Novak.

The junior guard hit a three while being fouled in the right corner, then drained three more from long range on consecutive possessions for a 20-16 lead near the midway point.

The Wolverines went into the locker room ahead, 33-27, and opened the second half with eight straight points.

Durrell Summers gave the Spartans life with a three-ball, and a Lucas jumper in transition resulted in a 41-32 game.

Novak fittingly answered with a make at the top of the key, and Michigan led by at least two possessions until the Spartans' final push.

Game Notes

On Wednesday, Izzo dismissed key bench contributor Korie Lucious for the rest of the season for conduct detrimental to the program...Michigan State came into the game 8-1 at home, its only loss coming against nationally-ranked Texas on December 22...The Spartans shot just 5-of-19 from three-point range...Summers ended with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Green scored nine points in the loss...Michigan made half of its 46 attempts from the field.