oM SPORTS ,n... r ; , r . <.. Pk4 e The Michigan Daily Friday, March 6, 1981 Pag ge 83-67 WIN SNAPS SIX-GAME DROUGHT i s Cagers clobber Gophers . s gettin to'; By JON MORELAND Before the season even began, every Big Ten basketball follower knew that Michigan's success would hinge on its front line's ability to produce against the opposition's big men. That production, which was lacking throughout Michigan's recent six- game losing streak, re-appeared in last night's 83-67 win over Minnesota at Crisler Arena. It would have been a much closer ball game if the points of Michigan's starting forwards and center were totaled against those of the entire Gopher squad. The front line trio of Mike McGee, Thad Gar- ner and Paul Heuerman combined for a total of 66 points, one below the entire Minnesota output. McGEE, WHO LAST night became the Big Ten's all-time leading scorer, led the Wolverine attack with 36 points. The offensive assistance McGee had lacked in recent games was finally provided, as Heuerman tallied 18 points and Garner added 12. Even more impressive was their shooting percen- tage over the giants from Minneapolis. Heuerman hit Gopher broke nine of 11 shots from the floor and Garner hit six of ten and McGee was 16 for 28 as Michigan hit an even 60 percent from the field. "We felt there were only two we could lay off of," said Minnesota coach Jim Dutcher. "One of them goes six for ten and the other goes nine for 11." MICHIGAN COACH BILL Frieder was especially pleased with the play of Heuerman. The senior center came into the game averaging only 6.6 points per Big Ten game. His 18 points equalled a season high. "It's good to see him play a good game," said Frieder. "He's a great shooter and I'm glad to see him finally break out of his slump." Frieder was also pleased with the rebounding of his crew. Anytime the Wolverine cagers can break even in the rebounding category, it's considered a plus, and last night they grabbed 28 caroms to the much taller Minnesota's 27. "Our rebounding was definitely a key," said Frieder. DUTCHER HAD A different perspective, however, "They (the Wolverines) were just quicker g the ball," he said. "We were moving awfully slow, and that made Michigan look a lot quicker." THE FIRST TEN minutes of the second half was see-saw battle with neither team able to build up a lead in excess of three points. An eight point Michigan streak, however, proved. decisive when it put the Wolverines ahead 65-56 witk seven-and-a-half minutes left. "in the first ten minutes of the second half it was-, anybody's ball game," said Frieder. "ONCE WE GOT in the lead, though, we were able to settle back into a zone and shut down their inside game." The all-important streak began when Heuertnan hit a 15-footer from the right corner. A Garner layup, sandwiched between a pair of short jumpers by- McGee provided the Wolverines with a cushion they never relinquished. MINNESOTA MICHIGAN Min Min McGee.......... Garner ............ Heuerman......... Johnson ........... Bodnar, Mt ........ McCormick ....... Bodnar, Mk ... Person......... Team Rebounds Totals........... 37 40 31 25 33 14 9 11 ifg/a ft/a R 16/28 4/6 3 6/10 0/1 6 9/11 0/0 8 3/7 0/0' 4 2/3 1/1 3 0/1 0/0 0 2/3 0/0 0 1/2 0/0 3 1 39/65 5/8 28 A 0 7 3 4 3 0 2 PF Pts 1 36 2 12 2 18 1 6 2 5 3 0 14 1 2 Holmes............ 15 Howell.............33 Breuer .. .........37 . Tucker.............33 Hall .............. 38 Whley............ 13 Mitchell............31 Team Rebounds Totals.......... fg/a ft/a R 2/2 2/3 2 2/7 0/1 7 7/12 1/2 8 7/15 0/0 3 8/9 1/2 1 1/2 0/0 1 4/11 1/1 3 2 31/58 5/9 27 A 0 4 2 i 3 0 2 PF 0 3 4 2 3 2 1 Pts 6 4 15 14 17 2 9 Daily Photo by BRIAN MASCK MICHIGAN CENTER Paul Heuerman lunges to save a ball headed out of bounds during the second half of last night's 83-67 Wolverine victory over Minnesota. The 6-8 senior had his finest night of the season, scoring 18 points on nine of 11 from the field and grabbing a game-high eight rebounds to help subdue the giant-sized Gophers. 10 15 67 20 13 83 Fouled Out-None Halftime-MICHIGAN 34, Minnesota 32 Attendance- 10,900 -Satisfying, streak-ending victory keeps slim NCAA chances alive WEEKEND SPECIAL CHECK THE FOLLOWING 15%0 off ENTIRE STOCK OF Sperry Top Siders Sebago j Docksides Frye Boots Rockport Shoes Timberland' Th1s iludes all Men's a emen's styles 1 Group Men's SPORT SHOES Women's BASS by CLARK 100's-;3890 $3290.$3990 Reg. $49.00 Values to $66 'i .' I .1 'I' ifs it Jv vI By DREW SHARP Don't cancel Michigan's NCAA basketball tournament reservations just yet. The Wolverines' 83-67 victory over Minnesota lastnight coupled with the Purdue Boilermakers' 93-92 triple overtime defeat at the hands of Ohio State have kept the Wolverines' faint hopes of an NCAA bid alive, but accor- ding to head coach Bill Frieder, Michigan must win Saturday against those same Boilermakers to secure a post-season tournament bid. "I told the .guys during practice that no tournament would accept a team that has lost eight consecutive games," said Frieder. "To justify receiving a bid we would have to win our final two games. We got one tonight against Min- nesota, but we must defeat Purdue on BILLBOORD The deadline for all team entries for the 5-6 (women) and 5-9 (men) All- Campus intramural basketball leagues is today. Rosters and entry fee must be in by 4:30 this afternoon at the I-M Building on Hoover St. SCORES College Basketball vanderbilt 60, Kentucky 55 Virginia 76. Georgia Tech 47 0 North Carolina 69, North Carolina State 54 Wake Forest 80, Clemson 71 Georgetown 58, Seton Hall 52 Providence 67, Boston College 65 Villanova 65, Connecticut 54 Iona 41, St. Peter's 38 Cincinnati 67, Tulane 66 Virginia Tech 72, Memphis State 66 Georgia 88, Alabama 80 Mississippi 81, Tennessee 71 Alcorn State 90, Prairie view 79 Texas Christian 56, Baylor 47 Rochester 75, Salem State 62 Holy Cross 63, Maine 54 Northeastern 76, Vermone 69 OT San Jose State 63, Fullerton State 54 Centenary 76, Samford 69 Professional Basketball New York 104, Detroit 101 Kansas City 106, Portland 100 "If we win on Saturday, we will be in a tour- nament somewhere." -Bill Frieder Iowa City and Indiana's 69-66 triumph over Illinois, which formed a deadlock for the top spot in the conference. INDIANA WILL travel to East Lan- sing on Saturday to take on the red-hot Spartans while the Buckeyes play host to Iowa. Since there is no playoff format for the Big Ten in case of a tie, both clubs will be dubbed co-champions and each will receive ma bid to the NCAA tournament. Although the Illini lost last night, they are virtually assured of an invitation whether they win or lose their con- ference finale. It will be up to the discretion of the NCAA whether more than three Big Ten teams will be in- vited. The NCAA will be selecting 48 teams in all whereas the NIT, picking up the NCAA leftovers, will choose,32 clubs, making a total of 80 post-season tour- nament invitations given to teams throughout the country. Saturday. If we win on Saturday, we will be in a tournament somewhere." A WIN OVER Purdue coupled with a Wisconsin victory over the Gophers would create a three-way tie for fourth place in the Big Ten with the Boiler- makers and Minnesota. The Wolverines would have the better overall record of the three teams, and if the NCAA selec- tion committee decided to take four teams from the Big Ten, tabbing the Wolverines would be the logical choice. Minnesota head coach Jim Dutcher realized that his team now has its back to the wall regarding an NCAA bid. "If we win in Wisconsin on Saturday and go 10-8 in the conference, we can freeze out Michigan," said Dutcher. (The best the Wolverines can hope for is a 9-9 conference finish.) "A Purdue vic- tory tonight would really put us on the spot against Wisconsin." LAST YEAR, Minnesota tied owa for fourth place in the conference, but the NCAA invited the Hawkeyes to the tournament, who wound up advancing to the Final Four in the tournament. "Our season boils down on Satur- day," continued Dutcher. "Some good things could happen to us if we win, but if we fall, we'll be heading right back to the NIT's." The Gophers lost to Virginia in the final game of last year's NIT tournament. The Big Ten championship will go right down to the wire due to Michigan State's 71-70 upset of first place Iowa at CAMeUS M A ST'S 619 E. Liberty SHOP 662-0266 d ___________ m 1.0 Z/ tZ5 ,/ s - .4 S A \-;: ft\ / .. mayb ^ ;,-,j in concert march 25 I .,r : I = ^ s: }, .:: ,r Jr W'\ hill oud .. t f..,'i _. ... F f .. m F . r s. . ....,. ,$ .. y .mom"" t 4 MISS J TIPTOES THRU THE TULIPS IN FUN FOOTWEAR BY FAMOLARE©. Tickets are $11.75, $10.75 and $9.75 and are The rea Laes aCmpn i