be di tnlatig Bullock's I x,71 1 M=771 Blue blows by Nittany Lions By Danielle Rumore Daily Sports Editor While former Michigan standouts Terry Mills and Glen Rice prepared for the 3- point shootout as part of the NBA All-Star Game festivities in Cleveland, current Michigan standout Louis Bullock had his shooting contest. nd he won. At 3:51 of the first half of the game - a g a inst Michigan 81 Penn State Penn State 4 Saturday, Bu t i o ck squared up and buried a 3-pointer, the 136th of his career and his first of the day, to top Rice's p jous record of 135 career triples. Bullock received the game ball from Michigan coach Steve Fisher, and then went on to score 11 total points as the tyXenty- third-ranked Wolverines (7-4 Big Ten, 17-6 overall) downed the Nittany Lions (1-10, 8- 12), 81-64, at Crisler Arena in front of a crowd of 13,423. "I'll let Glen Rice take on everyone in the NBA. I'm just fine here," Bullock said. "I never think about when I take a shot. I got an open look, and I was able to knock it down. It felt good because I got it out of the way. I was glad to have it early; that way I can just go ahead and play the rest of the game without that on my mind." With Saturday's win, the Wolverines swept the Lions this season, having topped them, 67-59, at University Park Jan. 28. The Wolverines shot just 40.7 percent from the field and had 17 turnovers in that game. Despite matching their turnover margin this Saturday, the Wolverines shot a blister- ing 55.8 percent from the field, their fourth highest percentage this season, and 58.3 percent from 3-point range. Jerod Ward was Michigan's leading scor- er, finishing with 19 points and two steals, tying his career record for points and steals. In fact, Ward, Bullock and Robert Traylor - three of Michigan's starting five - fin- ished in double-digits. "Jerod had the best half of his Michigan career," Fisher said. "The first half was the best he's played since he's been here. He was more than a catch-and-shoot basketball player, and I like that." After sustaining a broken nose and con- cussion against Wisconsin last Thursday, Maurice Taylor was fitted for a face mask - which he said he will probably wear for the remainder of the Big Ten season - making him look more like a movie serial killer than a basketball player. "One of the walk-ons, Ryan DeKuiper, said I looked like Michael Myers," Taylor said. "Then the trainer got on me, and they thought I needed a chainsaw." Chainsaw or not, Taylor came off the bench and finished with 14 points and five boards despite taking another blow to the nose early in the first half. "As soon as I came in, I took a blow to it," Taylor said. "After the first blow (to my nose), I was like, 'Oh, my God. I can't take too many more of those.' I didn't want to shy away from any contact because of my nose." In the first game between the two teams in January, the Lions played without Rashaan Carlton, who was nursing an arthritic knee, and Phil Williams, who attended a family funeral. Their absence left a gaping hole in the middle for the Lions. But they played on Saturday, joined by the Lions' rail-thin shot-block specialist, center Calvin Booth, and forward Jarrett See PENN STATE, Page 5B MARK FRIE Louis Bullock received an embrace from Maurice Tayl he broke Michigan's career 3-point record on Saturda TWICE IS NOT SO NICE place In history was set long ago It took almost the entire first half, but that was hardly a long time to wait. Not for Louis Bullock. Michigan's career 3-point mark was his for the taking. After only 1 1/2 seasons, he needed just one three to claim a school record as his own. Everyone - including Bullock - knew it was going to happen Saturday. It was just a matter of time. The Crisler crowd was already standing when his first attempt glanced harm- lessly off the rim. It took him almost 12 min- utes to wriggle free for another JOHN shot at history. And when that LEROI one fell, just like Out of the 135 before it, Bounds Louis Bullock was content to jog back down the floor and play defense. No raised hands. No Reggie Miller imperson- ations. Nothing to indicate that this slim 19-year-old, in only 55 games, had just broken Glen Rice's career 3- point record at Michigan. If the referees hadn't stopped the game, Bullock would have gone about his business. His teammates hugged him, but he hardlyhugged them back. "I feel I sell myself short and sell my teammates short if I start thinking about breaking records," Bullock said. "I'm just glad to get it over with." This wasn't just another athlete try- ing to act modest. Bullock meant it. The record was his. It's not as if he doesn't want it, he just doesn't care as much as you might think. Though Bullock snagged himself a piece of the record books Saturday, his place in Michigan history was earned long ago. In actuality, the record means little. Rice, though he played just three sea- sons with the 3-point line, could have had far more than 135. He sank just 36 threes during his sophomore and junior seasons when then-Michigan coach Bill Frieder needed him down low more than he did behind the arc. Rice exploded in his senior year, netting 99 threes - a Michigan sin- gle-season record Bullock will have trouble matching this year. He fin- ished his career having hit 48 percent of his shots from 3-point range - another school record. If Frieder had let him bomb away the previous two seasons, Rice would have likely dou- bled his career mark. One hundred thirty-five threes is not a lot. Still, Bullock should be applauded - but not for breaking Rice's record in such a short amount of time. He should be appreciated beacuse he is Michigan's best player, though everyone sang the praises of Maurice Taylor when the season began. He should be praised beacuse he is a terrific basketball player and a phe- nomonal shooter. And unlike some other Wolverines, he'll only get bet- ter. State nabs Michigan again after Blue win over Lakers Di By Andy Knudsen Daily Sports Writer DETROIT - Lightning may not strike twice, but the Spartans did. For the second time this year, Michigan State handed No. 1 Michigan a one-goal loss - this time a 2-1 decision Saturday in front of a sellout crowd of 19,983 at Joe Louis Arena. With a 5-2 victory over Lake Superior on Friday at Joe Louis, the Wolverines (17-2-2 CCHA, 26-2-3 overall) still hold a five-point lead in the CCHA. Saturday's loss ended Michigan's school-record 23-game unbeaten streak which began after its 5- 4 loss at East Lansing on Nov. 2. "Every game they've played against us they've played tough," Michigan coach Red Berenson said of the Spartans. "We haven't lost in awhile, but we've got to learn from this loss." Neither team could get on the board in the first two periods as Michigan goaltender Marty Turco was perfect on 24 shots and Michigan State goalie Chad Alban stopped all 13 shots he faced. "Turco, probably, was the difference in the game," Berenson said. "He was keeping us in the game more than Alban was keeping them in the game. They were getting better chances and more shots." Those chances finally paid off for the Spartans in the third period. Michigan State (13-5-3, 17-9-3) opened the scoring at 5:18 of the third when center Mike York finished off a 2-on-I break. York's shot just bare- ly rolled inside the left post and over the line before Turco covered the puck. Just 50 seconds later, the Spartans capitalized on a Sean Ritchlin cross-checking penalty, as ly defenseman Chris Bogus' shot from the top of the left circle was redirected by Tony Tuzzolino past Turco. Defensman Blake Sloan finally broke a 79- minute Michigan scoring drought, going back to Friday's game, when his shot from the left point on the power play was deflected off Michigan State defenseman Tyler Harlton's skate and through Alban's five-hole with 3:13 left in the game. The goal - Sloan's first of the season - sparked the Wolverines' play, as they had a few good chances to tie. "You always think you're going to get a tying goal," Sloan said. But the Wolverines couldn't tie it in the closing minutes and were held to less than three goals for the first time this season. "They blocked a lot; they sacrificed their bod- ies," Michigan captain Brendan Morrison said. "They made the sacrifices that got them the win; and we just didn't do the little things that we need- ed to do." Morrison said that the loss may be good for Michigan. "I think it was good tonight to sit in our locker- room and hear Michigan State celebrate," he said. "I think it really hit home hard tonight. This is a good indicator that we need everyone to show up every night." The Wolverines were also shut out in two of three periods Friday against Lake Superior (14-6- 3, 18-10-4). The difference was that they sank the Lakers with five goals in the second. Right wing Jason Sessa scored at 4:58 of the first period, giving the Lakers a 1-0 lead at the first intermission. But left wing Greg Crozier tied the game at 4:08 of the second after he stopped a Lakers clear- ing attempt in the left corner during a power play. See SPARTANS, Page 4B WARREN ZINN/Dail Left wing Brian Crane and the Spartans didn't let their confidence get sandwiched by Michigan's No. 1 ranking or its 23-game win streak. Michigan State is responsible for both of Michigan's losses. Unfinished business Back from injury, Lemire eyes improving her game By Richard Shin Daily Sports Writer ain and agony. Months of rehabilitation. No, it's not what follows a term of organic chemistry, it's what follows a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a dehabilitating knee injury that requires reconstructive surgery. It's what Michigan women's basketball player Ann Lemire faced last season after tearing the ACL in her right knee only seven games into her freshman season. At the time of her injury, the Wolverines were a respectable 4-3 entering their final two non-confer- ence games, which they won. The grueling Big Ten schedule that followed produced a 1-15 conference record. It was hard on a team that had endured two disasterous conference campaigns in the previous two seasons. It was hard on a team trying to under- stand its coach, Trish Roberts, who resigned after "It was very hard, especially to see my team- mates that unhappy, and not really knowing what they felt. It was hard to see them go through that." And for Lemire, playing basketball had never really been that hard. She credits her father, Jerome, who played at Central Michigan, for cultivating her interest in sports. Ann Lemire started running at a very early age and often accompanied her father to the gym. At Frankenmuth High School, she set scoring, assist and steal records, leading Frankenmuth to a state title in 1993 and a 97-7 record in four years. In '95, Lemire led the team to the state semifinals, averaging 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as a senior, and she was named to the all-confer- ence team all four years of her high school career. As a senior, Lemire was named Miss Michigan basketball runner-up and was an Honorable Mention All-American. Her decision to attend Michigan was based not only on what the school but I know that I'll be prepared coming out of Michigan.". Lemire's mother, Judith, says that her daughter carefully weighed her options before choosing Michigan. "It was pretty much her decision, but Ann has always been a hometown girl," Judith says. "She had to weigh the° possibility that if she went out-of-. state, then her parents, relatives and friends wouldn't be there to support her. "I think that played a big part in her decision." As a freshman at Michigan, Lemire started the first game of her career against Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She turned in a 15-point performance and helped lead the Wolverines to a 86-77 victory. In the seventh game of her career, she had the best performance of her freshan ver in a Michian iuniform: nouinnain He's on his way to being one of the conference's best outside shooters ever. He even has a shot at breaking Shawn Resperts' Big Ten record of 331 triples in a career - a much more meanigful mark than the one he acheived Saturday. What makes Bullock special is this: he's the best pure shooter the Wolverines have had since Rice. When Bullock came to Ann Arbor in 1995, he was expected to be Michigan's savior, what Bobby Crawford and Jimmy King were not: a long-range wizzard. Before his freshman season, sports writers actually wanted to see Bullock shoot at media day - an event usually reserved for player introductions and interviews -just to make sure Fisher had actually landed a shooter with a Midas touch. Bullock was as quiet and stoic that day as he was Saturday. He didn't look or act like a basketball player. But he was one. As for 3-point records, Bullock could care less. He kept the basket- ball he shot the record-breaking three with. But he couldn't even find it after the game. It'll go home with his parents when they visit next week, but not before each one of his teammates - walk- ons and all - sign it. , 5' the season. } i