8A — Wednesday, January 17, 2018 Sports The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com A memorable weekend for the senior guards of Michigan basketball It was quite the weekend for Michigan basketball’s seniors. But if you’re Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, you’re blasé about it all. “I wasn’t thinking about much, just making the free throws,” the senior guard said after notching his 1,000th career point — a game-winning free throw to top Maryland on Monday. “... Definitely didn’t think it was gonna happen like that, but I’m glad it did — we got the win.” A minute before with the Wolverines up 61-59, Abdur- Rahkman pump-faked and sent two Maryland defenders flying. One dribble to the left, a spot-up and a much-needed 3-pointer ignited a frenzy at Crisler Center. In Saturday’s 82-72 upset over then-No. 4 Michigan State, Abdur-Rahkman contributed 14 points for his first win in East Lansing, including a tough, and-one layup that gave the Wolverines a two-possession lead halfway through the second half. That same day and nearly 700 miles away, the women’s team was creating magic of its own from the charity stripe. Freshman guard Deja Church hit three free throws to send the Wolverines into overtime, where they would eventually topple Nebraska, 69-64. A stressful situation? Of course. But it was one they wouldn’t have even been in without shooting virtuoso Katelynn Flaherty. It was business as usual for the senior guard — 9-for- 17 from the field and a game-high 26 points. Saturday’s road contest was special beyond a thrilling victory, though. With 8:03 remaining in the second quarter, Flaherty spotted up from the top of the 3-point line and scored her 2,443rd career point. She had surpassed Glen Rice’s record to become the stand-alone scoring leader in Michigan basketball history, man or woman. “It’s pretty incredible to think I could hold the record at such a prestigious university,” Flaherty told The Summitt. “... I think it was all set up perfectly for me to be successful.” Added women’s coach Kim Barnes Arico: “Her story is really special. Hers is a story of hard work and of perseverance and of never giving up and overcoming obstacles.” Flaherty is unequivocally the best player in Michigan women’s basketball history. The same cannot be said for Abdur-Rahkman on the men’s side. But the two East Coast natives have plenty in common. Most significantly, perhaps, is that their teams would not be where they are now — a 15-4 record for the women and a 16-4 record for the men — without them. Neither particularly possesses stand-out athleticism, a trait that made them only a step above being a fly on the wall coming out of high school. Flaherty makes up for her 5-foot-7 frame with a work ethic marveled by her teammates — she takes 1,000 extra shots after practice. Abdur-Rahkman has compensated for his skinny frame with his trademark dribble-drive finesse at the hoop and his general basketball IQ. “1,000 points, too,” said junior forward Moritz Wagner about Abdur-Rahkman’s accomplishments. “I’m very happy for him about that. He is, in my opinion, very underrated in this league. The way he is playing is awesome.” From a leadership standpoint, neither is the most vocal — that role has been assumed by more animated players like Wagner and senior forward Jillian Dunston. Instead, they lead through composure, and let their play do the talking. Men’s coach John Beilein has even compared Abdur- Rahkman’s calm to notable players in the past like Trey Burke and Stu Douglass. And the senior’s stone face during his fate-clinching free throws on Monday circulated the internet thanks to awe- struck fans and followers. Abdur- Rahkman and Flaherty’s quieter style, in other words, could be described as humble. When asked about their individual performances, it is inevitable there will be a mention of their respective coaches and teammates. “They have always believed in me and found me in great positions,” Flaherty said. “I don’t know if I could have done this anywhere else.” Added Abdur-Rahkman about his team’s chemistry: “We always say that all we need is what we have in this room and we don’t listen to the outside sources and things like that. I think us being so close as a group, as a team, helps us go into tough environments like Michigan State and other places on the road.” Regardless of the help from their teammates or the hurdles they have overcome to be focal points of their team, their respective impacts are unquestioned. Both players are having their best seasons in terms of points, rebounds and assists. The women’s team appears poised to make its first NCAA Tournament since 2013. The men’s team looks like it will have a much easier path to get there than last year. It was a whirlwind three- day, three-win stretch that revealed a message: this year is much different for both teams. Flaherty and Abdur-Rahkman make that a good thing. AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily Senior guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman scored his 1,000th point on a game-winning free throw against Maryland. ETHAN WOLFE Daily Sports Editor RUCHITA IYER/Daily Senior guard Katelynn Flaherty surpassed Glen Rice as the leading scorer in the history of Michigan basketball. ‘M’ opens new facility with Wolverine Invite On Saturday, international collegiate athletes, Michigan alum and Olympians gathered in Ann Arbor’s new south campus athletic complex to break in the new indoor track. The Wolverines hosted the Wolverine Invitational, a non- scoring meet featuring top talent from across the country. The meet was a chance for Michigan’s track and field programs to test the waters on their pristine new track. The Wolverines learned what it’s like to compete on their new home turf. Despite being a preseason event, there were still numerous highlights. Both the men’s and women’s teams fared impeccably well against stiff competition. For the men’s team, events such as the 60-meter, 400-meter and 4 x 400m relay unfolded favorably as Michigan took the top spot in all of these events. The Wolverines also managed second-place finishes in the 60-meter hurdles, 800-meter, one mile, weight throw and high jump. These performances were driven behind senior Khoury Crenshaw in the 60-meter with a time of 6.80 seconds and freshman Jandon Briscoe in the 400-meter with a time of 47.82 seconds. The women’s team faired equally well, notching top finishes in the 400-meter, 4 x 400 relay and high jump. Scoring top finishes were sophomore Jade Harrison in the 400-meter with a time of 55.48 seconds, senior Claire Kieffer-Wright in the high jump clearing 1.73 meters and the Michigan A team in the 4 x 400 relay, clocking a 3:44.91 finish. Michigan also secured second- place positions in the 60-meter, one mile and weight throw. Some of the Wolverines’ second-place accolades also garnered praise, such as junior Matt Plowman, who finished the 800-meter behind two-time Olympic medalist and Michigan alum Nick Willis. “I think I did good for the first meet,” Harris said. “And I think the whole team did super well for the first meet as well. There were a lot of standouts like Jandon (Briscoe), he did really well in the 400, and then (junior) Meghan (Marias) got second place in the 60, then stepped up to be in the 4 x 4.” What makes these performances even more exemplary is that every individual’s winning mark will now serve as the new facility record. While some records may be broken in subsequent meets, others look to last a while. Unattached triple jumper Donald Scott landed a noteworthy 17.06-meter jump, a mark that would have dethroned the old facility record, and professionals Nicole Sifuentes and Shannon Osika ran the fastest mile times ever recorded in the state of Michigan at 4:27.69 and 4:28.30, respectively. All in all, one of the largest crowds to ever watch a home Michigan track meet was impressed with not only the quality of the competition, but of the new facility as well. “At first it was pretty nerve- wracking,” Briscoe said. “But after my first 60, I felt settled in, and honestly — this is one of the best tracks I’ve ran on. I’ve been all over the country running track, and this is probably the best track for sprints I’ve ever had.” Added Michigan women’s coach James Henry: “You can never have a second chance to make a first impression. And these kids’ first impression, I thought, was very good. There’s a reason we put up a world class facility — because we wanted to bring in world class athletes, and we want to get to the point where these kids can aspire to be such a person.” JACOB KOPNICK Daily Sports Writer “It’s pretty incredible to think I could hold the record.” “I don’t know if I could have done this anywhere else.” Wolverines exact revenge against Ohio State It didn’t make any sense — at least, not at first. With under two minutes remaining in the third quarter, junior shooting guard Nicole Munger dribbled the ball up court, running point. Why was she suddenly playing the new position? It would soon be clear. While Munger handled the ball, the team’s usual point guard — senior Katelynn Flaherty — managed to sneak around the Buckeyes’ defense, and a couple passes later she drained a 3-pointer from the left wing. This clever play created the diversion Flaherty needed to snag an open look, and the Wolverines grabbed hold of the lead, 56-54. They never let go. That play was a major tipping point, as the No. 19 Michigan women’s basketball team (5-2 Big Ten, 16-4 conference) upset No. 8 Ohio State (5-1, 16-3) in Columbus on Tuesday night, 84-75. The first half was a foul frenzy. Junior center Hallie Thome — Michigan’s go-to player in the post — got two fouls within the opening quarter. This restrained the Wolverines’ abilities down low, and the Buckeyes started to dominate the paint, led by forward Stephanie Mavunga. Thome didn’t let her foul troubles stop her, though, and she stepped up big time. With four fouls in the fourth quarter, Thome closely guarded Mavunga in the low post with two minutes remaining in the game. With the score at 78-72, a fifth foul would have been troublesome for Michigan. But Thome’s smart positioning helped her draw a charge while Mavunga attempted a spin move, further building momentum for the Wolverines. She also helped Michigan maintain its separation in the final period with some critical baskets, finishing the night with a team-high 27 points. But Ohio State found foul troubles of their own. Its star guard, Kelsey Mitchell, picked up two fouls early on. That forced her to ease up on the defensive end, and with Mitchell playing conservatively, Munger took advantage — easily finding the lane and scoring on Mitchell. Munger shined for Michigan from the start and wasn’t far behind Thome with a career-high 20 points. “Nicole played with an extreme amount of confidence,” Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico told WTKA. “She was definitely a difference maker.” Though they excelled in transition, the Wolverines were initially unable to tame the Buckeyes’ multi-threat offense — made up of Mitchell and Mavunga, who finished with 20 and 21 points, respectively. Michigan trailed, 25-21, at the end of the first stanza. On the first play of the second frame the Wolverines turned the ball over. That became a theme, and Ohio State scored 25 points off turnovers by the end of the game. Five minutes before halftime, though, Mitchell got called for her third foul and headed to the bench. This break helped Michigan stay in the game, as it started to cut into the deficit. But Flaherty struggled to score. She had just three points at the break, and the Buckeyes led, 41-36. The Wolverines went to work in the third quarter, going on a 7-0 run right off the bat. Flaherty started to look more like herself, draining a corner 3-pointer to ignite the run. A couple minutes later, she tied the game up at 41 with a layup in transition. She finished the night with 21 points, and her success in the second half fueled Michigan. “We were really scoring the basketball,” Barnes Arico said. “I think that just helped our confidence.” It was the second contest between the two teams in a span of 10 days. The Wolverines lost a heartbreaking overtime contest in Ann Arbor and had their revenge planned for Tuesday. Despite a tough first half, they succeeded. “Nine days ago was one of the toughest times,” Barnes Arico said. “We really felt like we let the game slip away, and we really focused on improving a lot of the mistakes we had made at that point.” CEREN B DAG/Daily The Michigan women’s basketball team defeated No. 8 Ohio State on Tuesday to avenge its previous, overtime loss to the Buckeyes 10 days ago. ROHAN KUMAR Daily Sports Writer TRACK AND FIELD