Page 4- The Michigan Daily -Sports Monday-January 29, 1990 Wolverines won. the right to talk big by Steven Cohen Daily Basketball Writer Saturday's basketball game between Michigan and Michigan State had all the intensity of a top-rank boxing match - except, fortunately, flying fists. The game, in front of a capacity crowd of 13,609 at Crisler Arena, featured an upstart challenger for the Big Ten crown, Michigan State. The Spartans eagerly awaited the game to prove themselves to the higher-ranked contender, Michigan, and expressed it with the usual pre-fight hype. Spartan junior guard Steve Smith, who at 6-foot-6, is one of the nation's best (and most talkative) players, launched the first verbal missile when he spoke of his desire to finally beat Michigan and to guard Rumeal Robinson. The last time Michigan State beat Michigan was in 1987, before Smith arrived in East Lansing. Smith next decided he would rather check Sean Higgins because he feels the Michigan forward possesses a bigger mouth than does Robinson. Robinson also had been slighted somewhat in the preseason by Smith when Smith named himself and Illinois' Kendall Gill to his preseason Big Ten team. During the game, Smith and Higgins waged a verbal battle, exchanging jibes down the court after baskets. After the game, Higgins, who was outscored 19-11 by Smith, said "He got caught up in the hype. I don't even know the guy. He's a great player and I'm sure he knows I'm a good player. I expected him to talk. When he shuts up, I don't think he plays well." "There wasn't all that much talking as there was in the past," Terry Mills said. Michigan State's unwillingness to shake hands at half-court in the pre- game introductions still remains tradition. This season, two Wolverines didn't bother to run to mid-court to get snubbed. The other three Michigan players jogged to midcourt anyway. "We just showed them the Michigan class," Mills explained. After the game, Spartan coach Jud Heathcote looked at the game as a moral victory, saying "I look at this game and I see a lot more pluses than minuses," and added that Michigan still had to play in the new Breslin Arena. Because Michigan State outrebounded and outshot Michigan, and Michigan came away with a narrow victory, the Wolverines will have to be ready for round two in March. But the burden is on the challengers and not the champs. "Talk is cheap," Robinson said after the game. "We don't dislike them. We just keep beating them." BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK Rumeal finds that the second time is a charm by Mike Gill Daily Basketball Writer What a difference a week makes. Just last week, Rumeal Robinson drove to the basket from the right side in hopes of giving Michigan a chance at double overtime against Iowa. His effort fell short. Following the game, he lambasted the refereeing saying among other things, "They don't deserve to get paid." Yesterday, Robinson hit almost exactly the same shot as he missed the*& week before and said he was not worried abcut a Big Ten reprimand that resulted from his outburst. "I'm not worried about the Big Ten. I have to go out and play basketball," Robinson said. "I want to win ballgames and sometimes I get angry. Sometimes everybody gets angry. You might get angry when you don't write a good paper. Right?" Right. PLEASE, DAD: After the game, Michigan coach Steve Fisher was bur- sting with enthusiasm. He practically danced over to shake Michigan State coach Jud Heathcote's hand while Crisler Arena stirred itself into a frenzy. Afterwards, his 12-year old son Mark came in to watch the postgame press conference. As Fisher finished and Heathcote arrived to address the media, Fisher was greeted by his son. But with congratulations? Hardly. "Dad, can you get three of my friends in here and one of their uncles wants to come in here too," "I don't think so," came the reply. "But dad." The discussion carried on out into the hall. SNOWED OUT: A blizzard which closed both major airports in Chi- cago presented problems for Michigan's play-by-play men for the Wolver- ines game last Thursday against Northwestern. WJR's Larry Henry and. WWJ broadcaster Dale Conquest had their flights rerouted to Minneapolis. Henry arrived at halftime while Conquest missed the game completely. WWJ picked up a feed of the Northwestern announcers while WJR enlisted the services of a local Chicago announcer before Henry arrived. THE HEIDI AWARD: While on the subject of radio stations, WPZA deserves the knucklehead move of the week. Friday, WPZA lost con- nections with Wolverine hockey play-by-play man Ken Kal from Colum- bus with 1:07 left in the third period and Michigan trailing by a goal. After playing four songs, including Herb Albert's "The Lonely Bull" they rejoined the action and fans discovered there was a 1:15 left in overtime. J'.10 EJUAREZM Wolverine center Terry Mills puts up a short jumper during Saturday's game versus Michigan State. Mills scored 15 points and hauled in 6 rebounds in the Wolverine victory. SPARTANS continged from page 1 "I had no idea that I'd be fouled," Calip said. "I thought they'd wait and let us work the clock down. It's a total surprise to me." Fisher also admitted surprise over Heathcote's call. "It worked to get them the ball," Fisher said. "It's gutsy. What it does do is get you the ball back re- gardless. At least you have another chance. Pretty good strategy." Which is exactly why Heathcote called it. "We said 'hey,' let's foul either Rumeal or Calip, they're go- ing to get the ball,"' Heathcote said. "I'm not saying they are going to miss, but even if they make both, we got a chance to either tie it or hit a three-pointer and win it. "It looked like a brilliant strategy until it backfired." It backfired when Robinson stop- ped Ken Redfield's open route to the basket, causing him to travel. Michigan had the ball, and once again, Robinson provided the heroics. The Cambridge, Massachusetts native finished with a game-high 25 points (17 in the second half). After shooting only 2-for-10 in the first half, Robinson came back to shoot 7-for-10 in the second half. Mich- igan only.connected on 43.5 percent of their shots for the game. One of the two shots Robinson hit in the first stanza came as the clock wound down. Robinson fired a long trey that hit all net as time ran out, allowing the Wolverines to go to the lockerroom tied at 37. Smith led the Spartans with 19 points while Kirk Manns scored 13, but 11 of those came in the first half before Calip shut him down on defense. Mills scored 15 points and Loy Vaught nailed 12 to go with his 11 rebounds - many coming in clutch situations down the stretch. Redfield will be remembered for walking in the stretch, but he pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds. The game showed the physicalness of the Big Ten, yet whistles did not toot with as much frequency as recent Wolverine games. "I'm going to go to church tomorrow," Fisher said. "We're just thankful that we got this one today. We've had a lot of close one's. All of them have been close." Maybe the collection box at Fisher's church will be filled with Smith's money. After all, when it came "money time," it was Fisher's team with the collection basket in hand. I RESOLVE continued from page 1 Fortunately, they were allowed to play. Unlike many recent games, the officiating in this one was loose. "The refs were letting a lot go down there, which we like to see," Mills said. It may have been the key to victory. For the first time in recent memory, the Wolverines front line stayed intact throughout the game, avoiding foul trouble. Several times in the second half, Mills wrestled for position with the Spartans' Mike Peplowski and Dwane Stephens. It was Big Ten basketball the way it's meant to be. Mills pleaded for the ball with facial expressions that looked like a cross between anguish and deter- mination. And when the game hung in the balance, he got his wish. He went on the baseline around the slower Peplowski and then, leaning back, 11 u IN WV I ii_ uiE_ fending off Parish Hickman's help- defense, touched the ball off the glass. "T. Mills made a big time basket," Robinson said. Michigan 63, State 61. If Mills had a big time basket, Robinson had a monster big-time basket. His game-ending coast-to-coast drive and fading shot reminded you of the one he missed at the close of the Iowa game. But this arching semi-hook shot traveled unobstructed through the cylinder. You looked up and saw the last fleeting tenths of seconds run off in a blur that looked more like a flashing "8" than a "5,4,3,2,1." And there was Sean Higgins, running with his arms in the air, on@' the press row tabletop, dodging typewriters and television monitors like a child who had decided Crisler Arena was his playground. He had reason to celebrate. The Big Ten title was still in sight. ri1A~r "~ * Resume Packages e Quality Thesis Copies * Course Packets * Fax Service * Term Paper Copies * Collating/Binding * Passport Photos * Color Copies a -.. kwinko',s the copy center Bring this coupon into a participating K'nko's Copy Center and receive $2.00 off on a set of regularly priced Passport Photos. No appointment necessary. Not valid with any other offer. One coupon per customer. Good through. April 31, 1990' OVERWHELMED BY THE SEARCH FOR HOUSING? LET US END YOUR SEARCH. UNIVERSITY TOWERS OFFERS THE BEST AMENITIES, PRIME LOCATION, AND AFFORD- ABLE RENT. 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