Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Wednesday, December 2, 2015 — 7A

Wolverines build 
lead early in second 
half, hold off N.C. 
State on the road

By KELLY HALL

Daily Sports Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. — Duncan 

Robinson smirked at his bench. 

After the Wolverines trailed, 

then led, and then came close 
to trailing 
once 
more, 
the 

redshirt 
sophomore guard sank his fifth 
3-pointer with 6:48 left in the 
game to give the Michigan men’s 
basketball team the cushion it 
needed to hang on to its lead and 
beat North Carolina State, 66-59.

“We showed great fight down 

the stretch,” said senior guard 
Caris LeVert. “They made a 
run — we knew they would — 
their crowd got behind them, 
but we still stuck together. We 
made some big baskets down the 
stretch. Duncan’s 3 and Zak’s 3 
were huge for us, we got stops 
when we needed and rebounded 
well, and that’s what got us over.”

For the first 10 minutes 

of 
Michigan’s 
Big 
Ten/ACC 

Challenge matchup at N.C. State, 
it appeared the Wolverines were 
going to fall to the Wolfpack in a 
similar fashion to their first two 
losses — with poor shooting and a 
lack of an impactful big man.

Michigan (5-2) started the 

game shooting just 2-for-9 from 
the field, but with 10:12 left in 
the first half, Robinson ignited 
the Wolverines with a 3-pointer 
that put them one point short of 
the Wolfpack, 11-10. What started 
as a game dominated by N.C. 
State quickly descended into a 
back-and-forth contest, with the 
two teams exchanging leads five 

times in the next two minutes.

But once Michigan grabbed 

control, it never lost its lead.

Freshman 
forward 
Moritz 

Wagner, 
who 
came 
in 
for 

sophomore 
big 
man 
Ricky 

Doyle four minutes after the tip, 
awakened the Michigan bench 
with a monster one-hand slam 
with 8:06 to go. Wagner collected 
four fouls over the course of the 
game but emerged as a steady 
backup with eight points on 
4-for-7 shooting.

“I think that’s kind of my 

thing, to give the team energy,” 
Wagner said. “I think that’s what 
people ask me to do, and I really 
enjoy that role.”

After 
opening 
the 
game 

shooting 
2-for-9, 
Michigan 

made its next seven of eight. 
Robinson had a big part of 
Michigan’s late control. He hit 
two 3-pointers in a row to give 
Michigan a comfortable seven-
point lead. The Wolverines 
maintained that lead, going into 
halftime up 34-26.

After 
junior 

guard 
Derrick 

Walton 
left 
the 

game late in the 
first frame with 
a 
slight 
sprain 

on his left ankle, 
sophomore guard 
Muhammad-Ali 
Abdur-Rahkman 
started the second 
half and played 
the bulk of the 
minutes at point 
guard. 

Senior 
guard 

Spike 
Albrecht, 

who has played 
only spot minutes 
while 
rehabbing 

his hips, was also 
able to make an 
appearance. 
He 

got on the court 
with 
14:46 
left 

in the game after 

keeping his sweats on during the 
first half. Just 19 seconds later, 
he fed senior guard Caris LeVert 
for an alley-oop dunk that gave 
Michigan a 15-point lead. 

The 
Wolfpack 
gradually 

whittled the Wolverines’ lead 
over the next minutes, led by 
forward 
Caleb 
Martin, 
who 

scored 10 points on a 12-1 run to 
make the score 46-42.

LeVert’s 
steady 
dominance 

made it impossible for the 
Wolfpack to come all the way 
back, scoring 18 points, dishing 
out seven assists and grabbing 
nine rebounds. And with help 
from Robinson, who ended the 
game with 17 points on 6-for-
8 
shooting, 
the 
Wolverines’ 

confidence was on full display. 

“(Robinson’s 
shooting) 
is 

deadly,” LeVert said. “When he 
hits a couple in a row, you wanna 
look for him every time you can. 
… He just knocks them down.

“If we were playing against a 

guy like Duncan, we would never 
leave him open.”

LeVert, Michigan hold off Wolfpack

Abdur-Rahkman, 
Albrecht pick up 
slack with Derrick 
Walton Jr. injured

By JACOB GASE

Daily Sports Editor

RALEIGH, 
N.C. 
— 
The 

Michigan men’s basketball team 
was finally starting to roll in its Big 
Ten/ACC Challenge showdown 
against North Carolina State, 
but on the Wolverines’ bench, 
Derrick Walton Jr.’s face was 
buried in a towel.

The junior guard had just 

helped the Wolverines break 
an early tie with a 10-0 scoring 
run, but after Wolfpack forward 
Maverick Rowan ended the 
drought 
with 
a 
3-pointer, 

Walton came up grabbing his 
left ankle in pain.

Walton 
— 
who 
missed 

Michigan’s final 12 games last 

season with a toe injury in the 
same foot — hid his face during 
a brief examination on the bench 
before slowly limping to the 
locker room moments later. He 
was officially diagnosed with a 
slightly sprained ankle and did 
not return for the second half, 
leaving the Wolverines without 
their floor general.

Fortunately for Michigan, the 

rest of its offense came ready to 
play to the tune of a 66-59 victory, 
even without Walton’s direction.

Just 11 days after his 29 points 

weren’t enough to down Xavier 
at Crisler Center, junior guard 
Caris LeVert proved the offense’s 
success could stem from his own 
performance. LeVert essentially 
ran the point for most of the second 
half, and his 18 points, seven 
assists and nine rebounds were all 
team highs. More importantly, his 
poise and persistence — perhaps 
best exemplified by his buzzer-
beating jumper to end the first 
half — kept the Wolverines from 
taking their feet off the gas.

“Coach came to 

me and told me I 
was gonna be the 
lead guard in the 
second half,” LeVert 
said. “Derrick’s our 
brother out there, 
so we wanted to get 
the win for him. He 
played so well in the 
first half offensively 
and defensively, we 
knew (the rest of us) 
had to play well in 
that game.”

Redshirt 

sophomore 
guard 

Duncan 
Robinson 

showed 
he 
also 

possesses the same 
3-point 
shooting 

prowess as Stauskas 
and can take over a 
close game with his 
shooting.
Robinson knocked 

down five of his seven 3-point 
attempts on his way to 17 points, 
including a huge triple with just 
under seven minutes remaining 
to extend a narrow four-point 
lead to seven.

“When (N.C. State) pushed 

hard, we needed somebody to 
step up,” said Michigan coach 
John Beilein. “(That last 3) 
was probably the only bad shot 
Duncan took, but it was one of 
those, ‘No, no, no ... that’s my guy 
(after he made it).’ “

LeVert may have been the 

de facto point guard for the 
Wolverines in the second half, but 
both sophomore Muhammad-
Ali Abdur-Rahkman and senior 
Spike Albrecht were needed for 
meaningful minutes. 

Abdur-Rahkman 
is 
no 

stranger to being unexpectedly 
thrust into action thanks to 
last year’s injury problems, and 
though he didn’t light up the box 
score, his experience showed in 
his defensive matchup with N.C. 
State leading scorer Anthony 
“Cat” Barber.

Albrecht, 
meanwhile, 
was 

dressed in sweatpants for the 
first half in keeping with Beilein’s 
stated plan to focus on rehabbing 
from his offseason hip surgeries. 
But after Walton went down, 
Albrecht came out in uniform for 
the second half. The ailing senior 
played just five minutes, but he 
punctuated his brief time on the 
floor by lobbing a perfect alley-
oop to LeVert.

At 
least 
for 
tonight, 
the 

Wolverines proved they could 
survive a tough road matchup 
without a true point guard 
thanks to stellar play from LeVert 
and Robinson. But with Walton’s 
health now up in the air — he will 
be reevaluated before Michigan’s 
game Saturday against Houston 
Baptist — and Albrecht’s road to 
recovery still dragging on, only 
time will tell if that offensive 
productivity is sustainable.

A look at Michigan’s competition

By JUSTIN MEYER

Daily Sports Writer

With three days until the puck 

drops on the Big Ten hockey sea-
son, the conference is a mess. All 
six teams have laid more than 
their fair share of goose eggs. In 
fact, just two teams enter confer-
ence play with a winning record.

In 16 games against the 

National Collegiate Hockey Con-
ference, considered the country’s 
strongest this year, the Big Ten 
has lumbered to a 1-14-1 record. 
No. 12 Michigan and Penn State 
have managed to separate from 
the pack just by playing respect-
ably.

It’s too early to be certain, but 

more than one Big Ten team mak-
ing the NCAA Tournament looks 
hopeless.

With the Wolverines (7-2-2) 

hosting Wisconsin on Friday at 
Yost Ice Arena for the start of a 
weekend series, the Daily breaks 
down the competition across the 
conference.

Penn State (8-2-3)

There are no two ways about it 

— the Nittany Lions are a strong 
team.

The young hockey program 

has grown at an incredible pace 
over the last four years, and this 
season is no exception. Goalten-
der Eamon McAdam holds the 
best goals-against average and 
save percentage in the confer-
ence.

Penn State also ranks first in 

goals per game (4.15) and goals 
allowed per game (2.38). Yes, the 
team’s strength of schedule is 
undeniably weak — ranked 46th 
out of 60 teams. The Nittany 
Lions didn’t help themselves with 
a loss to unranked Notre Dame 
and a tie with a Niagara team that 
Michigan handled easily.

But the numbers don’t lie, and 

Penn State can suffer significant 
drops in productivity without 
another team in the conference, 
aside from of Michigan, sniffing 
its statistical leads.

Wisconsin (3-5-4)

The Badgers opened the 2015 

season with six winless games. 
The competition was stiff at 
times, including visits to No. 10 
Boston University and No. 1 Bos-
ton College, but the 0-3-3 start 
likely dashed any chance for an 
at-large bid for the postseason.

Wisconsin followed the slow 

start with several good perfor-
mances against top teams like 
No. 4 North Dakota and No. 9 
Denver. This weekend’s trip to 
Michigan finally gives the Bad-
gers the chance to right the ship 
once and for all.

The most severe correction 

needs to take place in the offen-
sive zone. Wisconsin is averaging 
a dismal 2.33 goals per game, last 
in the Big Ten, and has scored 
just three even-strength goals all 
season.

Freshman goaltender Matt 

Jurusik has been a nice addi-
tion since he took over the start-
ing role. Jurusik has posted a 
respectable 2.89 goals-against 
average and save percentage of 
.906. Those numbers are par-
ticularly 
impressive 
because 

they come against the high-pro-
duction offenses that Wisconsin 
faced in non-conference play.

Michigan State (4-7-2)

The 2015 season has not been 

kind to the Spartans. After fin-
ishing second in the Big Ten last 
season, Michigan State is heading 
into conference play with seven 
losses.

Four of those defeats came in 

definitive sweeps at the hands of 
North Dakota and Denver. The 
Spartans were outscored 14-4 in 
those contests. In games against 
the top 20 this season, the team 
is 0-6-1.

Besides the strong strength of 

schedule, ranked No. 22, there 
aren’t a lot of positives thus far for 
Michigan State. Defensively, the 
Spartans rank near the bottom 
of the Big Ten. Their goals-per-
game average of 3.00 is good for 
19th in the nation, but it is hardly 
enough to make up for the lapses 
on the other end.

Even worse, Michigan State 

doesn’t look likely to improve 
in the short term. The Spartans 
have another tough test this 

weekend when they travel to 
Penn State.

Minnesota (4-7-0)

One of the conference’s big-

gest disappointments remains 
an enigma. The Golden Gophers 
have talent in bunches, but lack 
even one signature win after 
playing several strong teams.

The Minnesota are the only 

Big Ten team to make the NCAA 
Tournament in each of the three 
years since the conference’s 
founding. But a shaky non-con-
ference performance did the 
team no favors toward retaining 
that distinction.

The Golden Gophers looked to 

be turning it around after a slug-
gish start to the season before 
being swept by No. 7 St. Cloud 
State last weekend. Now, ques-
tions surfaced about how good 
they really are.

Several 
notable 
departures 

this spring make it likely that 
Minnesota will rebound to bet-
ter form as the season continues, 

none more significant than goal-
tender Adam Wilcox. Wilcox left 
early to sign with Tampa Bay and 
currently plays in the AHL, but 
Eric Schierhorn has performed 
well in his absence. The fresh-
man posted a .916 save percent-
age through 11 games.

On a positive note, the future 

does look bright for the Golden 
Gophers — if only because Ohio 
State is on the horizon.

Ohio State (3-9-0)

The Buckeyes are awful.
Junior goalie Matt Tomkins 

ranks last in the Big Ten in save 
percentage, goals-against aver-
age and winning percentage. It’s 
certainly not fair to heap all of 
the blame on the netminder, but a 
3.20 goals-against average makes 
it nearly impossible to win games.

Ohio State travels to Min-

nesota this weekend, looking to 
improve an 0-6-0 record on the 
road. While a loss isn’t definite, 
one thing is: It’s going to be a long 
season in Columbus.

JAMES COLLER/Daily

Red Berenson’s team remains near the top of a weak Big Ten this season.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Thome, Dunston 
fill gaps on glass

By TED JANES

Daily Sports Writer

After Cyesha Goree graduated, 

the Michigan women’s basketball 
team lost a center who averaged 
more 
than 

10 
rebounds 

a 
game. 

Heading into the 2015 season, 
the Wolverines were in need of a 
replacement.

Enter 
Hallie 
Thome. 
The 

freshman center and former Ohio 
Ms. Basketball is supposed to get 
rebounds. After all, she is 6-foot-5.

“It’s nice to have that post 

presence inside,” said Michigan 
coach Kim Barnes Arico on 
Tuesday to WTKA. “And I know 
we worried about it this year, 
losing (Goree).”

Expectations haven’t entirely 

been met, though. Thome has 
pulled down 28 rebounds through 
six games for the Wolverines. 
Averaging 4.7 boards per game 
isn’t exactly what one would 
expect from someone of Thome’s 
size. She isn’t playing poorly by 
any means — hitting a remarkable 
76.6 percent of her shots — but 
her lack of aggressiveness on the 
glass seems to negate her height 
advantage.

The 
Wolverines 
focus 
on 

rebounding every day in practice, 
and assistant coach Melanie 
Moore works with Thome one on 
one, challenging her to grab more 
boards. When the whole team 
gets together for the rebounding 
drills, it tends to get pretty 
intense.

Barnes Arico will typically 

put five of the team’s practice 
managers around the arc, and 
the Wolverines all line up on 
the free throw line. When the 
coach shoots the ball up toward 
the backboard, the players turn 
around, find a manager to block 
and grab the rebound.

If a player fails to block out one 

of the practice managers, she is 
taken off the court.

Drills like these are what 

Thome needs in order to become 

more aggressive. She has great 
hands and finishes around the 
rim better than anyone Michigan 
has faced so far, but she still 
hasn’t filled the rebounding void.

Making up the lost ground 

is sophomore forward Jillian 
Dunston. A new addition to the 
starting five, Dunston leads the 
team with 49 rebounds — twice 
as many as Thome. Dunston and 
Thome are essentially opposites. 
What the 5-foot-11 Dunston lacks 
in height, she makes up for with 
her tough, gritty attitude in the 
paint.

Sunday, 
the 
Wolverines 

outrebounded 
Oral 
Roberts, 

37-33, and Dunston led the way 
with nine. Michigan was actually 
trailing the Golden Eagles in 
rebounds at the end of the first 
half, but it came back to dominate 
the boards after the break. 

STAYING 
UNBEATEN: 

Michigan is 6-0 for the first time 
since the 2011-2012 season. Not a 
single opponent has lost by less 
than 15 points, and it’s largely due 
to the Wolverines’ deep roster.

“I don’t know as a coach how 

many times in my career I’ve had 
(this much depth) before,” Barnes 
Arico said. “Usually you have a 
couple players that can score, but 
not eight or nine. We have eight 
or nine that can be our leading 
scorer on any given night, or at 
least make a big basket.”

Michigan is deepest at the 

guard position, led by junior 
Siera Thompson and sophomore 
Katelynn Flaherty. There are 
about 
six 
guards 
that 
play 

double-digit minutes every game, 
but it’s not because Barnes Arico 
is playing a four-guard lineup.

Barnes Arico has tended to 

keep two forwards in most of the 
time, rotating Thome, Dunston 
and senior Kelsey Mitchell.

It’s a good problem to have, but 

no matter the depth, Michigan’s 
undefeated streak is going to 
be put to the test this week 
with games against Pittsburgh 
and Princeton, both of which 
defeated the Wolverines last year.

NOTEBOOK

ALLISON FARRAND/Daily

Caris LeVert led the way with 18 points, seven assists and nine rebounds as the Wolverines picked up a big road win.

MICHIGAN
N.C. STATE 

66
59

