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Michigan tops NC State in ACC/Big Ten clash

Nov 28, 2012 - 5:49 AM Ann Arbor, MI (Sports Network) - Nik Stauskas scored a game-high 20 points as No. 3 Michigan downed No. 18 North Carolina State, 79-72, in an ACC/Big Ten Challenge tilt at Crisler Center.

Trey Burke contributed 18 points and 11 assists for the Wolverines (6-0), who travel to Bradley on Saturday. Tim Hardaway, Jr. added 16 points and Glenn Robinson III totaled 11 with seven boards.

"He just wants to win," Michigan head coach John Beilein said of Burke. "He just goes to work and has that ability to use a screen to jump into the play from 15-to-23 feet. And it just energizes the rest of the team."

T.J. Warren posted 18 points and C.J. Leslie picked up 16 points and 10 boards for the Wolfpack (4-2), who have dropped two of three and who next play at Connecticut on Dec. 4.

The Wolfpack used a 10-0 run to pull within 73-68 after a Warren bucket as the clock ticked down to the two-minute mark in regulation. Hardaway then connected for Michigan but Warren countered on the next trip down the floor.

An offensive foul on Leslie wiped out his basket which would have brought the visitors to 75-72 with 42.5 seconds on the clock and Hardaway made 1-of-2 from the line for a six-point edge. Another offensive foul, this time on Lorenzo Brown, forced a change of possession, and Burke made the last of two free throws to make it 77-70.

Warren connected once more, but NC State was again forced to foul, leading to Burke's pair from the charity stripe to seal it.

"We have a lot of options on this team," Stauskas said. "Everyone knows that someone can come in off the bench and fill those spots from the starters, and it's a great confidence builder."

Michigan gained separation with a 21-6 run early on. Hardaway began the run with a jumper and a triple to turn a 10-9 deficit into a 14-10 edge, Stauskas added eight points in the surge, and his trey inside of eight minutes remaining in the first half capped the burst and produced a 30-16 edge for the hosts.

Richard Howell hit a pair of jumpers sandwiched around a Scott Wood triple which trimmed the Wolfpack's deficit to seven, and later, a Warren bucket pulled NC State within 34-29.

But Stauskas drilled a triple and NC State only closed within five before a Robinson bucket left the Wolverines up 43-36 at the break.

Michigan entertained a healthy advantage through much of the second half until NC State's charge. Warren, Wood and Leslie rippled the net during a surge that brought the visitors within five.

"As a group we need to get better and become a good team come February," said NC State head coach Mark Gottfried. "Games like this at this time of year do nothing but help."

Game Notes

NC State shot 57.1 percent and Michigan connected on 50 percent from the floor, but the Wolfpack committed 13 turnovers to six for the Wolverines, who made 16-of-20 free throws ... Howell finished with 12 points and five rebounds for NC State ... Leslie committed a game-high six turnovers.