ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Michigan Wolverines (15-8, 6-6) defeated
the No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers (17-6, 8-4), 71-59, at Crisler Arena
Sunday, sending Bo Ryan’s team to its first pair of consecutive
losses since it began the Big Ten season 0-2 in 2002. The
Wolverines shot a season-high 58.1 percent from the floor,
benefiting from smart shot selection to hit 25-of-43 field goals on
the day. Senior Bernard Robinson Jr., ran the Wolverine attack,
which found itself out in front in transition and dominating in the
post, scoring 32 points in the paint.

“They were knocking down the open ones and they were making
tough ones, too,” UW junior forward Mike Wilkinson said. “You have
to give them a lot of credit for making the shots they did. We just
didn’t make the most of our [opportunities].”

The Wolverines seemed to be in control out of the gates, taking
a six-point lead with 12:22 remaining in the first half. The
Badgers, however, were able to turn the deficit around behind a
13-1 run over the next 4:14 to take a 22-16 lead after surprise
starter Dave Mader dumped in two of his six points off the glass
over two Michigan post defenders.

Michigan responded by out-scoring Wisconsin 22-5 over the next
eight minutes after settling into a 2-3 zone defense where the
Badgers were unable to exploit the way they did in the teams’ first
meeting Jan. 21 in Madison.

“When they played us in zone at our place, not only did Hanson
hit some but we got the ball into some soft spots against it,” UW
head coach Bo Ryan said. “We just didn’t get as many good looks
(today).”

Devin Harris connected on all three of his free throws after
being fouled by Wolverine freshman Dion Harris on an attempted
3-pointer with 0:05 remaining in the first half. After an attempted
buzzer beater failed by the Wolverines, they left the floor with a
38-30 halftime lead.

Michigan connected on an astounding 15-of-20 field goals in the
first half, but the Badgers were keeping close pace, hitting 12-24
field goals in the first stanza despite Wilkinson being limited to
two points in just seven minutes due to early foul trouble.

“We talked about that start at halftime, we were only up eight
and we shot it as well as we did,” Michigan head coach Tommy Amaker
said. “I thought that maybe wasn’t a good sign. We thought playing
that well offensively and shooting that well we hoped to be up by a
few more points. As you look in the second half, I thought our
defense was the difference. We hoped to play better defensively
because you certainly you don’t expect to shoot the ball that well
in the second half.”

The Wolverines turned up the pressure in the second half, and
the Badgers were unable to find an offensive rhythm. Wisconsin cut
the Michigan lead to eight points twice within the game’s final
6:33, including a 3-point play by Wilkinson, who took the ball to
the hoop, scored and was fouled to make the score 67-59, but Daniel
Horton was able to convert two free throws after a Harris foul to
push the lead back to 10 points.

Robinson led the Michigan attack with 11 points and six assists
before leaving the game halfway through the second half after
suffering a head injury in a collision with another player.
Sophomore Lester Abram notched a team-high 17 points on 5-of-7
shooting beyond the arc. The swingman from Pontiac added an
impressive eight rebounds and three steals to his stat line.

Devin Harris led all scorers with 18 points but shot just
5-of-20 from the floor, including 1-10 from 3-point territory.
Harris has only converted 11 of 32 field goals in his last two
games. Wilkinson returned to score 12 of his 14 points in the
second half, but the junior’s shooting also suffered when facing
the tall and athletic Michigan front court.

“We just have trouble with their length and quickness,” Ryan
said of the Wolverines.

Michigan’s win improves the Wolverines to sixth place in the Big
Ten with a 6-6 record. The loss drops Wisconsin to an 8-4
conference record and third place in the Big Ten behind Michigan
State (10-3) and Illinois (9-3).

“You just have to lace ’em up, come back, and say ‘OK, we’ve got
to find a way,'” Ryan said. “Whether it’s the beginning of the
year, middle of the year or towards the end of the year, we never
asked for this schedule; we just play it when they gave it to us
and we’re still playing it. We’ve got to dig in here.”

Click here for photos from the game