Second half slump costs Wolverines a victory at Maryland

December 4, 5:37 PMMichigan Wolverines ExaminerFrank Benson

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For the first time this season, the University of Michigan basketball team let one slip away.

The Wolverines led Maryland, 35-29 at halftime only to lose, 75-70 at College Park, Md., on Thursday night.

It was the first time all season UM led at the half only to lose. The Wolverines and Terps are both 5-2.

Wolverine coach John Beilein blamed himself after the game, saying he could have and should have called a timeout or two when Maryland came out firing early after the intermission.

The Terps began the second half by hitting two quick three-pointers and went on to take the lead with a 13-3 run.

“We would like to take those first three minutes back,” said Beilein of the start of the second half.

But Michigan fought back and trailed only by three points with less than a minute to play. Maryland was tough down the stretch, hitting 7 of 8 free throws in the final 1:27 to secure the win.

The biggest reason for the loss was probably the war on the backboards. Maryland outrebounded Michigan, 43-26.

Also the overall play of junior guard Greivis Vasquez for Maryland was a big key. He scored only two points last weekend as Maryland lost to Georgetown but against Michigan he played a strong overall game. In 35 minutes he had a career-high 12 rebounds, a game-high 23 points and six assists. He had only one turnover and held Michigan’s Manny Harris to only 5-of-15 shooting from the field.

Harris was one of four Wolverines to score in double-figures with 15. DeShawn Sims, making his first start of the year, and Zack Novak each added 12 and Kelvin Grady had 11.

The win helped lift the Atlantic Coast Conference to a 6-5 win over the Big Ten in the 10^th annual clash of the two conferences. The ACC is 10-0 in the series and Maryland has never lost at home in the history of the Challenge.

Although not officially a part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Michigan is not through the the ACC yet. The Wolverines face No. 4-ranked Duke on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Crisler Arena.

The teams met just two weeks ago and Duke handed Michigan its only real decisive loss of the season, 71-56 in the finals of the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

“We beat a really good Michigan team that’s going to be tough in the Big Ten,” said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. “You have to play well against their 1-3-1 defense to beat them.”

Duke comes into the game fresh off a 76-60 win over Purdue at West Lafayette, Ind. Duke is 10-0 in ACC/Big Ten Challenge play. The Blue Devils are 8-0 and that’s nothing new for them. Duke has begun the season 8-0 four times in the last five seasons. Under Krzyzewski, Duke has gone 8-0 15 times in the last 29 years. The school record for most consecutive wins to start a season is 17, set in 1991 and 2005.

Saturday’s game will be the second straight road game for Duke. The Blue Devils have posted a winning road record in five straight seasons and in 11 of the past 12 years.

Duke has beaten Michigan 19 times in 26 tries, including in the 1992 national championship game in the Fab Five era. Duke has won seven straight from Michigan. The Wolverines last beat the Blue Devils in 1997.