MEN'S NCAA BASKETBALL (1) Liconn 70 MIAMI, FL. 68 (2) Duke 82 CLEMSON 60 (6) KENTUCKY 72 (7) Auburn 62 (9) St. John's 84 PROVIDENCE 57 (12) UCLA 98 USC 80 (16)WISCONSIN 75 Illinois 53 Alabama 67 (21) ARKANSAS 60 OKLAHOMA ST. 75 Baylor 47 Nebraska 96 (25) OKLAHOMA 81 NORTHWESTERN 62 Penn St. 60 Ulje£kIi n&z Check out the Michigan hockey team tonight with Standing Room Only tickets. They are available today at the Hartwig ticket office, so if you missed the sea- son ticket sale this fall, here's your chance. Thursday January 21, 1999 IDA Icers look to shuffle with retooled lineup By Mark Francescutti Daily Sports Writer The Michigan hockey team has caught itself in a midseason shuffle. Not only has the team tallied a mediocre 3-3 record of late, but Michigan coach Red Berenson has shaffled his lineup again. Instead of a hockey sweater, Andrew Merrick and Greg Crozier will be wearing cardigans and suits while they sit in the press box watch- ing their team battle Bowling Green tonight at 7 p.m. Both were involved in the fracas at the end of the Ferris State game this past Friday. "This isn't discipline," Berenson said. "Merrick's a fourth-line player, and he did not help himself by being in that incident. We've seen what they can do, now it's time to see what (oth- ers) can do." Senior center Bobby Hayes will join them because of a major high sticking penalty and game disqualification committed against Western Michigan on Saturday. In place of the three icers, Berenson will insert forward Craig Murray, who has recovered from a nagging lace bite injury. Krikor Arman and Bob Gassoff, who performed admirably well in Saturday's win over Western Michigan, will also be replacing the trio. "We've been practicing with (Gassoff) at forward since about two weeks ago so he'll be ready," Berenson said. . Luckily for the Wolverines, forward Geoff Koch is expected to return after missing the Western Michigan game due to a concussion. And perhaps Michigan can continue to the luck that it has already had against the Falcons. The host Wolverines have two 5-2 victories to their credit over the Falcons thus far this season. Still, Bowling Green has the poten- tial to upset the Wolverines. The Falcons proved to be pesky last Friday, tying first-place Michigan State. "I've been impressed (with Bowling Green). Obviously they're playing close to their expectations of last sea- son," Berenson said. " They've got talent. They've got one big line that is as good as any line in the league." Bowling Green comes in with one of the most prolific power plays in the conference, which could pose a threat to the Wolverines without Hayes, one of the team's best penalty killers. "The thing that scares you is their offense," Berenson said. "They're a team that can beat you on the power play. The games we've had with them are really good, hard-fought games. "The first game (Oct. 30 At Yost) See FALCONS, Page 12A ,I NATHAN RUFFER/DaiIy Michigan winger Josh Langfeld will battle against Bowling Green tonight at Yost Ice Arena. H Road kill Gophers oust 'M' OHANI JONES/Daily Michigan guard Stacey Thomas lays out for a loose ball in yesterday's 76-75 over- time victory against Michigan State. Thomas had 15 points for the Wolverines. Women break losing Streak, eSpartans By Stephanie Offen Daily Sports Writer If there was any victory that was worth waiting six games for, it was played last night at Crisler Arena. The Michigan women's basketball team broke its five game losing streak when it defeated Michigan State, 76- 75, in overtime. The Spartans took an early lead when Becky Cummings made a jumper 10 seconds into the game. But that act was the fuel that the Wolverines needed to prompt a 15-3 run. Freshman Alayne Ingram would give Michigan their first lead of the game and contributed to that lead by scoring a 3-pointer, giving the team took a 7-4 lead. And freshman Ruth Kipping would add two jumpers, helping her team to their biggest lead of the night. But that was where the Wolverine's fire would be put out. The Spartans would go on a run of their own, as they outscored the Wolverines 12-0 in a span of five minutes. Michigan called a necessary time- out to regain composure. "Everybody's going to go on a run," Michigan coach Sue Guevara said. "So you call your time-out to stop momentum. At that point we were turning the ball over ... We needed to slow down a little bit and be a little more patient." Even with a few smaller Spartan runs, the Wolverines were able to keep the game close at the half, trailing Michigan State, 35-31. And all of the emotions were let loose upon entering the second half. Michigan quickly regained the lead, with key lay-ups from Alison Miller and Anne Thorius. Michigan was up by as many as seven points when the Spartans came storming back to tie up the game at 66 with just a minute left, a score that See STATE, Page 13A 76-70 By Rick Freeman Daily Sports Writer MINNEAPOLIS - Who says there's nothing to be learned from losses? Definitely not Brian Ellerbe. His Michigan basketball team lost, 76-70, to No. 17 Minnesota last night. "m v e r y N Minnesota 76 proud of Michigan 70 my team. I think we grew up a lot tonight," Ellerbe said. "We fought to get the game under control, but 76 points is just too many to give up." Credit Minnesota's Quincy Lewis. The senior scored 30 points 1ast night, topped only by Michigan's Louis Bullock, who had 33. Lewis' coach, Clem Haskins, felt he could have scored more. "I'd like to think the officials could give him some calls," Haskins said. If that had happened, Michigan wouldn't have had a prayer. The Golden Gophers (3-2 Big Ten, 12-3 overall) sank 34 of 30 free throws, 15 of which came on Lewis' 16 attempts. Michigan, by contrast, went 10 of 14 from the line. Haskins said his team needed the free throws to win, and Ellerbe wouldn't disagree. But whether he disagreed with the disparity between the teams' trips to the line, he would not say. But he indicated that the dis- crepancy had not escaped his notice. Michigan struggled, as it has before, at the end of the first half. See GOPHERS, Page 14A LOUIS BROWN/Daily Minnesota's Antoine Broxsie shoots over Michigan forward Josh Asselin in Minnesota's 76-70 victory over Michigan last night. Asselin, who had been extremely hot the last three games, was held to just two points and two rebounds. STOP GAMBLING AND START INVESTING 888-(686-8257) CALL FOR FREE TRIAL OFFER E1DON1? WIN 1OU1ON11PA Grapplers go north for Big Ten double dip By Chris Grandstaff [aily Sports W iter If you think it's too cold in Ann Arbor, be glad that you're not part of the Michigan wrestling team. The Wolverine grapplers will make a Nordic tour of Lake Superior this weekend for two important Big Ten meets. The Wolverines will reopen small game season as they face the Minnesota Golden Gophers tomorrow and the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday. The Gophers are ranked No. 2 in the country, and the team is this year's favorite to win the Big Ten. The Gophers defeated perennial national champion Iowa, which is currently ranked third, at the Cliff Keen National Wrestling Duals in Iowa City last weekend. The Gophers are led by all-American Brandon Eggum (184 pounds), three- time all-America Chad Kraft (157 pounds.), defending national champion Tim Hartung (197 pounds) and last __ _ I . "op " The University of Michigan Office of International Programs GS13 Michigan Union 530 South State Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1349 734 764 4311 tel 734 764 3229 fax What are you doing this Summer? WHY NOT STUDY ABROAD! *Experience a foreign culture, learn another language Thank You for the Honor of Being Voted Best Shoe Store* 1200 S. University at Church St. 734-994-9401 arli'@ week's Big Ten player of the week Brock Lesnar (Heavyweight). "They've got three guys ranked No. 1 in their respective weight classes, and their heavyweight is an exceptional ath- lete;' Michigan wrestling coach Dale Bahr said. But Gophers aren't invincible. Minnesota is coming off a loss at last weekend's prestigious National Duals, where they were defeated by traditional powerhouse Oklahoma State. "They're going to be worn out" Bahr said. "They went through the meat grinder at the National Duals and now they have to come back and wrestle a Big Ten opponent." The Wolverines hope to capitalize on every opportunity afforded to them by the weakened varmits from the State of 1,000 Lakes. "We're gonna ding them whenever we can;' Bahr said. "It's at their place, so they've got an advantage on us there, but realistically we should be favored in four of the 10 weight classes. We're going to need to win all the matches we're favored in, and pull off an upset some- where." As usual, the Wolverines will be lead pounds)-ranked eighth, seventh and se@ enth respectively. These three, along with fifth-ranked Otto Olson (174 pounds), are the keys to success this weekend. "Right now, with Minnesota a little tired, and us wrestling the way we are, we have a legitimate shot up there;' Bahr said. "Minnesota is ripe for the upset." The Wolverines will need to quickly refocus for the meet against the Badgers, in Madison just two days later. Although not at the same caliber 4 Minnesota, the Badgers have "some tough kids," Bahr said. "Overall we're a stronger dual team. We need to make sure that no matter what happens in Minnesota, it doesn't carry over in a negative way when we get to Wisconsin:' The Wolverines will also need to guard against jet-lag. "This is a tough travel weekend fo us," Bahr said. "I just want us to give 1 our best and stay healthy." Michigan could get an added boost with the possible return of heavyweight Matt Brink, who is listed as questionable for this weekend's matches. "We're taking him with us on the trip,