DeShawn Sims, Manny Harris Lead Michigan to 73-64 Win Over Ohio State

By Sean · Monday, January 4, 2010 · 11:28 AM |  Share | Leave a Comment 

Following what can only be described an embarrassing performance to end 2009 at Indiana, Michigan rebounded with a huge win over Ohio State on Sunday to get 2010 started on a positive note.  Michigan played a much better game both offensively and defensively against the Buckeyes, and DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris absolutely went off en route to a 73-64 victory.  Who knows what this win will mean in the long run, but for now it is a glimpse at what this team can do when its two best players bring their “A” game and when shots are falling.

Things went back and forth for much of the game, though Michigan controlled the lead for the most part.  Every time Michigan seemed to pull away, though, Ohio State went on a run and got back in it within a matter of a few possessions.  It wasn’t until there were about six minutes or so left in the second half that Michigan pulled away and never looked back.  The Wolverines were trailing 55-54 and proceeded to go on an 11-0 run.  Sims and Harris scored all of the points during that run and helped put the exclamation point on what was a hard fought victory.

Sims led all scorers with 28 points and Harris had 24.  It was definitely great that both of the Detroit natives showed up at the same time, especially after both played poorly against Indiana.  I will say that as we look ahead to the future, it is a bit concerning when two players account for over 70% of a team’s points, but right now if that is what it takes for Michigan to win then I have no problem with it.

The other starters to score were Stu Douglass and Zack Novak, who had 9 and 3 points, respectively.  Laval Lucas Perry was held scoreless for the second straight game.  Off the bench, Darius Morris scored 5 points and Matt Vogrich 4.  Vogrich also had a block/steal in the paint that really seemed to spark the team.  Anthony Wright and Zack Gibson combined for 10 minutes of playing time and produced 0 points.

As a team, Michigan shot the ball much, much better and was more selective with its three-point attempts (it was Michigan’s fewest amount of attempted threes in a game this season by 4 shots).  From the field Michigan shot 55.8%, and from three-point land it went 37.5% (6-16).  Ohio State actually shot twice as many threes as Michigan but only made 4 more.  It’s a good thing the Buckeyes cooled off from behind the arc as the game went by, because they were shooting the ball very well early on.  Jon Diebler started the game something like 4-6 from three-point land only to finish 5-11.  That was the case for many Ohio State players.

Michigan is now above .500 again and will look to get a winning streak started when it heads to Penn State on Thursday.  Tip off is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN2.