RUGBY ON WHEELS: Michigan medical student might just have the skills to make it to the Olympics. PAGE 8B THE SPORTSMONDAY COLUMN: Ian Herbert: Looking for how to have fun play IM sports? Ask this veteran. PAGE 3B DOUBLEHEADER DELIGHT: The men's tennis team sweeps its competition over the weekend. PAGE 6B SPORTSid igm Daft January 23, 2006 lB Michigan 71, MINNESOTA 55 ew Heights Horton hits career-high 32 as 'M' roars to win By Kevin Wright Daily Sports Writer MINNEAPOLIS - An emphatic whoop echoed through the rafters of Williams Arena. And so did the player that made it. Three minutes into the second half, Michgan guard Daniel Horton spotted up on the right wing. Ron Coleman fired a pass in his direc- tion, and Horton caught it, rose and drained the 3-pointer. As the Cedar Hill, Texas, native skipped back on defense, he let out a roar to warn Minnesota that he had come to win. And to the Gopher faithful, Horton's play on the floor echoed just as loudly as his emotional outburst. On Saturday, Michigan fed off of Horton's play to pull out its first Big Ten road victory this season and its first win in Williams Arena since 1993. The Wolverines defeated the Gophers 71- 55 to move above 500 in the conference at 3-2. "I thought (Horton's) swagger, more than any- thing else, was the difference for us and the way that we played tonight," Michigan coach Tommy Amaker said. With No. 12 Michigan State and No. 13 Wisconsin traveling to Crisler Arena this week, Michigan desperately needed a win against a Minnesota team that has yet to notch a confer- ence victory (0-5). "We just wanted to finish this week," junior Dion Harris said. "Starting with Northwestern on Wednesday, we just wanted to finish the week off and look forward to next week when we have two more big games." Horton made sure that the Wolverines (13-3 overall) didn't fall. The senior scored a career- high 32 points and made key shots when the Wolverines needed them most. In the first half, Horton accounted for 10 of the first 14 Michigan points. He stroked three from beyond the arc, one of which he convert- ed into a four-point play. See GOPHERS, page 5B MIKE HULSEBUS/Daily Freshman Tim Miller stands over Falcon Brett Pilkington In a fight during the Michigan's 6-1 win over Bowling Green on Friday. Blue's spli*es nlty 00 strikes again By H. Jose Bosch Daily Sports Writer TREVOR CAMPBELL/Daily Guard Daniel Horton scored a career high 32 points In the Wolverines victory over Minnesota. Injuries to Abram are just pla/zn unfair BOWLING GREEN - The final scene explained it all. Bowling Green goaltender Jon Horrell - screaming with both arms raised - seemed to embrace his entire team asT the Falcons jumped all over each other nearM their net. On the other end of the ice, the sixth-ranked Wolverines skated slowly with their heads down, just waiting to leave the poorly played game behind them. Michigan lost a precious opportunity to gain ground in the CCHA race with a 5-2 loss to the Falcons on Saturday night. The loss followed a 6-1 Wolver- ine victory the night before. As the seconds ticked away at BGSU Ice Arena, the sound of jin- gling car keys reverberated off the arena's walls and low ceiling. It was time for the Michigan to warm up the bus. "Their best players were their best players, and we couldn't score when we had to," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "We took some unnecessary penalties that we have to deal with that may have cost us - it certainly cost us some momentum in the game. We had a lot of players play well, but I cannot tell you our team played well." The Wolverines (9-6-1 CCHA, 14-9- 1 overall) are now tied for fourth in the CCHA with 19 points. The top four teams during the regular season receive a first- round bye in the CCHA tournament. Michigan dug itself into an early hole and trailed 3-0 with two minutes remaining in the second period. But the Wolverines brought themselves within two goals when sophomore Chad Kolarik took a pass from fel- low sophomore Kevin Porter, wound up and sent a rocket past Horrell to deflate the rambunctious Bowling Green crowd. That momentum lasted less thantwo minutes. g With the period winding downy; Falcon captain Don Morrison had a breakaway on Michigan goalie Noah Ruden. Wolverine alternate captain Matt Hunwick chased down Morri- son and made a great defensive stop, but immediately took a poor penalty that put Michigan on the penalty kill to start the third period. Just 1:37 into the final frame, Bowling Green (8-11-1, 12-14-1) cap' italized on the power play. Forward Derek Whitemore skated around the offensive zone from right to left and wrested a shot toward the net. The puck deflected off the stick of Fal- con forward Rich Meloche and hit the back of the net to put Bowling Green up, 4-1. See FALCONS, page 4B MINNEAPOLIS - The play was beautiful. The punctuation was sickening. Early in the second half of Saturday night's game against Minnesota, Michigan guard Daniel Horton stole the ball and sprinted the length of the floor. He drove hard toward the right block and kicked it out to forward Graham Brown at the foul line. Then, Brown made a beautiful touch pass to wing Lester Abram, who was charging hard toward the left block. Abram caught the ball on the move, went up for the shot and sank it while being bumped by Minnesota's Vin- cent Grier. But while Michigan's players celebrated the perfect fast break and the and-one opportunity, Abram crumpled to Williams Arena's raised floor. Even from the nosebleed press seats where I was sit- ting, it was obvious. Abram was in intense pain. He writhed on the hardwood, holding his left ankle. "I was worried, because he's a tough guy, and he was MA screaming on theM floor," junior Courtney SIN( Sims said. "If he's Spittin screaming like that, you know it's some- thing bad." Last Wednesday against North- western, Horton went down in a similar fashion. Saturday night, he showed no ill effects whatsoever, scoring a career-high 32 points. But AT GI g j I don't think Abram will have it so easy. Abram left the locker room on crutches, tak- ing care to avoid putting pressure on his left ankle, which was in a boot. "We still don't know the complete diagnosis of his injury," Michigan T coach Tommy Amaker said after the game. "I ER believe it's an ankle Fre sprain. I don't know the severity of it, or whether it's a high ankle sprain." I'm no medical expert, but I know injuries classified as "ankle sprains" can mean almost anything. As Hor- ton optimistically suggested, Abram could be back as early as Wednes- day's showdown with Michigan State. Or he could be in crutches for a month. It's impossible to say when Abram will return to the lineup, but there's no doubt that recently, his injury luck has been downright unfair. After a shoulder injury kept him out of all but three games last season, the Detroit native came into the 2005-06 campaign healthy and ready to improve upon his impressive sophomore showing. He seemed to be well on his way to doing so, averaging double-digit point totals and showing off his consistent defensive play. But during the nonconference season closer - a yawner against lame Chicago State - Abram suffered a toe injury that kept him out of Michigan's first two Big Ten games. See SINGER, page 5B 0 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Poor shooting dooms Wolverines Bruck leads Tumblers to first season win By Katie Niemeyer Daily Sports Writer With one fall recorded in the last rota- tion, the Michigan women's gymnastics team needed perfection out of its veter- ans. Senior Becca Clauson and junior Michigan coach Bev Plocki said. "And in situations like that, they're the people I want to have in those anchor positions, because I think they can handle it." Bruck led the way for the Wolver- ines all night. She posted a first-place 9.750 on vault and tied for second on the By Sara Livingston Daily Sports Writer BLOOMINGTON - The law of averages says that if you throw the ball in the direction of the basket enough, it's eventually going to go in. Yesterday, the Wolverines proved conventional wisdom wrong, taking 52 shots from the floor and converting just don't know if they should pass or if they shouldn't.' With Clement, sophomore Janelle Cooper and freshmen Jessica Minnfield and Ashley Jones rotating around the perimeter, Michigan continued to strug- gle away from the hoop. The Wolverines were unable to shake their defenders and committed 19 turnovers - which the Hoosiers converted into 20 points. .. } .= . '4, l i, ., "_a , "t s Y . .,, is z ? . i. tis.:. .. i, "?