Michigan wins basketball opener

Michigan Tech forward Fedrick Bowe (40) watches the ball get knocked away from the basket by Michigan forward Anthony Wright in the first half of a regional round match of the 2K Sports Classic on Tuesday.

ANN ARBOR Manny Harris scored a career-high 30 in leading Michigan to a season-opening 77-55 win over Division II Michigan Tech in the 2K Sports Classic Tuesday night.

The Wolverines will play Northeastern at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the tournament s second round, with the winner advancing to the semifinals Nov. 20 at Madison Square Garden.

UM, coming off a 10-22 record in coach John Beilein s first season last year, never trailed against the Huskies. An 18-5 run over a seven-minute stretch in the first half put the Wolverines up comfortably and they led 42-24 at the break.

Harris, a preseason All-Big Ten pick as a sophomore and UM s leading scorer last year, had 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the game s first 20 minutes. His previous high point total was 29 against Penn State March 1.

DeShawn Sims came off the Wolverines bench to score 10 points and lead all players with 12 rebounds, and Zack Gibson added 11 points.

Georgio Holt paced Michigan Tech with 12 points. The closest the Huskies got in the second half was 10 points.

In the first game at Crisler Arena Tuesday night, Northeastern beat IUPI 73-60 and advanced to Wednesday night s second round.

Northeastern, which is also nicknamed the Huskies and finished sixth in the Colonial Athletic Association last year, was led by forward Eugene Spates 14 points. The Huskies made 24-of-26 foul shots (92 percent).

Michigan Tech will play IUPUI in a consolation game Wednesday at 5 p.m.

-- Joe Vardon

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