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No. 13 Michigan edges Northwestern in OT

Jan 12, 2012 - 6:05 AM Ann Arbor, MI (Sports Network) - Trey Burke scored Michigan's final eight points in overtime as the 13th-ranked Wolverines outlasted Northwestern, 66-64.

Trailing 66-63 in the waning seconds of overtime, Alex Marcotullio was fouled on a three-point attempt from the right corner by Tim Hardaway Jr. with 0.3 seconds left.

But he missed the first foul shot.

Needing three points to tie, Marcotullio sunk his second attempt and intentionally clanked his third shot. He got his own rebound, but was unable to get a shot off.

Burke calmly hit all six of his free-throw attempts in the extra session and finished with 19 points, seven assists and seven rebounds for Michigan (14-3, 4-1 Big Ten), which shot just 33.3 percent from the floor and 7-of-30 from beyond the arc.

The difference came at the charity stripe, where the Wolverines nailed 15- of-16 attempts. They also scored 18 points off 16 Northwestern turnovers.

"Today we fortunately found a way to win," Michigan head coach John Beilein said. "...Our defense bailed out the lack of shooting that we had."

John Shurna had 21 points and six rebounds while Drew Crawford poured in 20 points with six rebounds for the Wildcats (11-5, 1-3), who have lost four of five.

The Wildcats used an 8-2 spurt to take a 52-48 lead with 7:37 left in regulation, but Northwestern didn't make another field goal until overtime.

The Wolverines didn't fare much better, as they connected on just two field goals the rest of regulation.

Hardaway nailed a three-pointer to tie the game, 54-54, with 2:40 left and neither team mustered another point in regulation.

Shurna's fadeaway jumper in overtime put Northwestern ahead, 56-54, and ended a lengthy field-goal drought.

Burke's offensive rebound and putback gave Michigan a 60-58 advantage with 2:11 left.

Crawford made 1-of-2 from the line following a Jordan Morgan technical foul, but Burke pushed the lead back to three after nailing a pair of foul shots to make it 62-59 with 1:05 to go.

After Dave Sobolewski and Burke traded a pair from the charity stripe, Northwestern regained possession with 32 ticks left.

Down, 64-61, Crawford saw an open crease in the lane and took the easy jam with seven seconds remaining. Once again Burke hit a pair to make it 66-63 with six seconds left.

On the Wildcats' final possession, Sobolewski quickly dribbled up the floor and found Marcotullio, who was fouled.

Crawford nailed a three-pointer from the right corner on the Wildcats' final possession of the first half as they took a 34-27 lead into the break. Shurna had 12 points and Crawford netted 11 points to pace the Wildcats. Northwestern shot 60.9 percent from the field and were 4-of-6 from beyond the arc while limiting Michigan to a measly 29 percent clip from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.

Game Notes

Northwestern opened the season at 7-0, but is just 4-5 since...Michigan has won 12 straight games at Crisler Arena dating back to last season...The Wolverines own a 104-56 lead in the series...Hardaway was 5-of-9 from beyond the arc and finished with 19 points.