*4 ailg What is the record for the number of times the Michigan Hockey team has gone into overtime during the regular season? 'M' sports calendar Forrest Fires Q & A Hockey Men's Basketball- Women's Basketball Wrestling Gymnastics Swimming 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 'M' hockey unbeaten streak snapped by Illinois-Chicago By Darren Everson Daily Hockey Writer WOODRIDGE, Ill. - Saturday's game Oetween Illinois-Chicago and Michigan had everything you don't usually see in college hockey - a linesman calling a penalty, a power play in overtime and a bench-clear- ing brawl. None of these occurrences, though, are as rare as the one that happened at 3:23 of overtime: The Wolverines lost. The Flames (8-11-2 CCHA, 11-15-3 overall) ended the Wolverines' 14-game un- beaten streak by defeating Michigan 5-4, after the Wolverines (17-3-1, 22-5-1) won by the same score on Friday. The Flames' Rob Mottau lifted a loose puck over Michi- gan goalie Marty Turco seconds after an Illinois-Chicago power play ended to win the game. Mottau then raced to the net and got right in the face of the fallen Turco. The senior defenseman pointed at Turco and at the flashing red goal light, which caused the Wolverines on the ice to come to their teammate's defense. Soon enough pushing, shoving and punching took place all over the ice as both benches were emptied. "It was both teams," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "I don't blame (anyone in particular)." Both teams had been playing physical all night long, starting with Michigan defenseman Harold Schock's bone-jarring check of Derek Knorr one minute into the contest. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, it was that kind of play that ultimately cost them the game. Michigan s Bill Muckalt attempted to surgically remove Clay Awe's appendix with his stick 1:16 into the extra period, and the freshman forward received a seat in the penalty box for his malpractice. The infrac- tion occurred away from the puck, meaning a lot of people -including referee Richard Graff-- didn't see it. "The linesman called the penalty behind the play," said Berenson, who didn't see Muckalt's slash either. "That's the first time I've seen a linesman call a penalty all year." Even more surprising than the overtime penalty was the performance of seventh- place Illinois-Chicago. The Flames entered the weekend with the CCHA's worst power play, but they managed to convert on two man-advantage opportunities in Saturday's game. The Wolverines needed a hat trick-from See FLAMES, Page 4 Wolverines Badgered by Wisconsin in 70-65 loss 'M' tournament prospects darken after defeat ADISON - If anyone on the Michigan men's basketball team was waiting for reason, now is as good a time as any to push the panic button. With Saturday's loss at Wisconsin - the Wolverines' fourth loss in their last seven games - the prospects of making the NCAA Tournament are 3 becoming dimmer and dimmer. The loss ANTOINE leaves ANTONE Michigan tied Pits for fourth in the Stop conference with Illinois. A 7-4 conference record wouldn't normally be bad except for the fact that the Wolverines managed to win only half of their 12 nonconference games. With just 13 victories and seven games to go, Michigan realistically eeds to go 5-2 to have a omfortable shot of getting into the tournament. Looking at the remaining schedule those five victories could be tough to get. Four of those games are at home against Indiana, Illinois, Northwestern and Penn State. The Wolverines should be able to their own on the home court but then again Crisler Arena isn't mown as one of the league's toughest places to play. It's kind of hard to feel intimidated walking into Crisler when you have so many empty seats. Just ask Pennsylvania, Michigan State and St. John's who have already come into Ann Arbor and won with no problem this season. Let's say Michigan is able to take three of the four home games See PITTS, Page 5 King scores 20 as cagers fall for 10th time; Finley pumps in 29 By Scott Burton Daily Basketball Writer MADISON - The Michigan bas- ketball team fought a war of attrition with Wisconsin Saturday, much like in its victory over the Badgers Feb. 1. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, Wisconsin had the best soldier of them all in this battle. Badger senior Michael Finley caused all sorts of trouble for the Michigan defense, leading Wisconsin to a 70-65 victory. Finley scored 29 points and went to the free throw line 17 times, nailing 15 freebies. In all, Wisconsin shot 35 free throws, drew 27 Wolverine fouls and fouled out Makhtar Ndiaye and Maceo Baston. The Badgers' 30 points from the charity stripe negated a 57-44 shot advantage for the Wolverines and the fact that Wisconsin didn't make a field goal in the final eight minutes of the contest. "They got to the line too much. That was the difference in the game," Michigan senior Ray Jackson said. Still, Michigan had a chance to send the contest into overtime, down three on its last possession. However, much like in their loss to Michigan State earlier in the year, the only open shot the Wolverines could find was a three-pointer from freshman forward Maurice Taylor. His shot from the top of the key clanged off the rim and lingered over the net before bouncing harmlessly into the arms of Badger Darnell Hoskins. "We were trying to run a 3- point shot for Ray Jackson," coach Steve Fisher said. "Maurice Taylor gave him a flair screen, and we were hop- ing that (Jackson) would be open, and they stepped out, and Mo as a result was the guy with the open shot." Taylor's miss was indicative of Michigan's scoring problems at the end of the contest. After Michigan tied the score at 64 with three minutes to go, it failed to sink another field goal. Jimmy King missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Dugan Fife missed one of his free throws down the stretch, allowing Wisconsin to put the game away. "We had some shots down the stretch and we couldn't get one to go in," Fisher said. "We missed a crucial free throw when we were down two. Those, when you bring closure on a game, are the little things that create a difference." Nonetheless, neither team could pull away from the other in what was a tight contest throughout. The Bad- gers, despite their advantage at the charity stripe, shot only 41 percent for the game and were outrebounded 36- 28. "We got some pretty athletic big guys that find ways to go after the ball," Fisher said. "We got more re- bounds because we missed more shots. We pursued the basketball fairly well, and that got us some second-chance opportunities." Michigan, on the other hand, was limited by extensive foul trouble. Jack- son and King both picked up their third fouls late in the first half, while Makhtar Ndiaye picked up his second and third fouls after a technical at 4:40 of the first half. "That was like an old-fashioned type of Big Ten game," Wisconsin coach Stan Van Gundy said. "It was a little bit ugly, people were just beat- ing each other up." For the most part, Wisconsin was unable to take advantage of the Wol- verines' foul trouble. Badger center Rashard Griffith hit two consecutive baskets to begin the first half, giving Wisconsin a seven-point lead, 40-33. But Griffith scored only one more field goal the rest of the half. Finley, however, constantly blitzed Michigan's vulnerable defense by taking the ball aggressively to the hole. If he wasn't scoring easy buck- ets, he was drawing fouls. He gave Jackson all four of his fouls, and sent Baston to the bench permanently with 15 seconds to go in the game.- "We couldn't play as aggressive as we'd like," Taylor said. "The foul See BADGERS, Page 5 .AP PHOTO Maceo Baston and the rest of the Wolverines were frustrated by Rashard Griffith and Wisconsin in Saturday's 70- 65 loss to the Badgers. Baston finished the game with 10 points. 'Moral victory' still a Joss for women cagers Demolition Man Former rumbler Biggert now takes foes on mat By David Rothbart Daily Basketball Writer It was a loss, but all was not lost. Though the Michigan women's basketball team dropped their con- test with Penn State 82-65 Friday night at Crisler Arena, it salvaged its pride. The Wolverines (3-9 Big Ten, 8- *4 overall) knew they could not let themselves fall behind in the early going. In the their first meeting with Penn State, Jan. 15 at University Park, the Nittany Lions jumped out to a 25- 0 advantage, embarrassing Michigan 92-44. Coach Trish Roberts stressed Penn State's 13 first-half turnovers led to 10 fast-break points for the Wolverines. The Wolverines rallied to within nine after Akisha Franklin picked Nicholson's pocket and scored at the other end with seven minutes to play in the half. Amy Johnson stole a pass and drained a 15-footer, but Penn State answered with two straight inside buckets. At the intermission, the Wolverines were within striking distance, down 41-30. But the Lions came out roaring in the second half behind the torrid shoot- ing of guards Tiffany Longworth and By Jed Rosenthal Daily Sports Writer As Michigan wrestler Chad Biggert walks alone through central campus':he constantly notices passers-by staring at him. It's not because he is well known among the student population. It's not because he carries a powerful phy- sique. And it's not because he is wear- ing his varsity jacket. It's because he is talking to himself. His parents divorced when he was two, and for a period of over eight years, he lived in a trailer park with his mother, Jan Shier. "It was not that bad," says the fifth-year Michigan senior, reflecting back on the sardine-sized, two-room home he shared with a pair of older brothers. While growing up in these small quarters, Biggert says, "I learned survival tactics. "We were not passive children at all. We put my mom through hell," he I -;' 'ii.