Second-half run keys Michigan past the Hawkeyes

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Once again a lapse on one end of the court crippled any chance for the Iowa men's basketball team to notch a rare road Big Ten victory.

This time, the problem for Iowa was its second-half defense. After playing Michigan to a first-half standstill, the Wolverines torched the Hawkeyes from the second half's first possession, scoring on 14 of its first 17 possessions in an 87-73 Wolverines' win Sunday at Crisler Arena.

Michigan's execution was nearly flawless on those possessions. In a stretch lasting the second half's first eight minutes, 13 seconds, the Wolverines had only two empty offensive possessions with both resulting in turnovers. Twice Michigan converted offensive rebounds into points and hit 11 of 13 shots during that stretch.

“That's been a big problem for us all year long,” Iowa guard Matt Gatens said, “avoiding those runs and staying consistent with the way we're playing and play a full 40 minutes, It's five minutes here, five minutes there and then 10 minutes in between where it all goes to mush, and we lose control of the game, which is what happened today.”

The Hawkeyes (8-13, 1-8 Big Ten) trailed Michigan 35-32 at the break and traded leads 13 times with the Wolverines in the first half. But Iowa was lost in every phase defensively, and Michigan took advantage from the perimeter and in the paint.

Michigan drained five 3-pointers during a 34-16 second-half run that put it up by 21 points. Iowa's players were out of position, provided too much help defense and were overextended.

“I thought their penetration, creating help-recovery situations was excellent,” Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said. “We, on the other hand, were slow with close-outs. We were close but (Tim) Hardaway, (Zach) Novak, they've got quick triggers. If you're not there, it's going to be in your face. You sort of think you're there, but you're not there.

“It's something we have to work on, staying a step closer to the guy, two steps closer to the guy.”

Michigan sophomore guard Darius Morris provided the school's third triple-double in school history with 12 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. Morris watched former teammate Manny Harris put one up last year against Northern Michigan.

“I looked up to him and I still do, the thing he accomplished, I'm like, ‘That's great,' and I wondered if I could ever do that,” Morris said. “It's definitely a goal as a player and to be able to go out here and do it today, I'm just thankful to God.”

The Hawkeyes did mount a late - but futile - comeback. Iowa cut Michigan's lead to eight points with 3:20 left in the game. The Wolverines then worked the next possession to the final second when Jordan Morgan dunked with 2:45 left to put Michigan up 10.

Iowa freshman Melsahn Basabe bounced back from a four-point effort at Penn State to score a career-high 25 points and grab eight rebounds on Sunday. He was 9-of-11 from the floor, had two blocks, a steal and no turnovers.

“We didn't give him the ball enough,” McCaffery said. “I blame myself. I blame my point guard for not getting him the ball more. Now Bryce (Cartwright) had nine (assists) tonight, so I can't blame him too much.”

Cartwright's assist total also was a career-best, and he didn't have a turnover. Detroit native Devyn Marble scored 12 points, while Cartwright and Gatens each scored 11. Hardaway led all scorers with 19 points.