Michigan tops Iowa, to meet Ohio State in quarterfinal
3/11/2010INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan will meet Ohio State for the third time this season after the Wolverines beat Iowa 59-52 here yesterday to advance to the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten tournament.
Michigan (15-16) got off to a hot start and led the Hawkeyes by 16 with about nine minutes left in the first half. That sharp beginning was critical, since the Wolverines had come out flat in the first half of a recent 16-point loss to Michigan State, going just 5-of-23.
“That was good for our psyche, to come out today and have the shots falling,” Michigan guard Zack Novak said. “It built us a little cushion.”
The Wolverines led 32-23 at the half after going the final six minutes without a field goal, but senior DeShawn Sims said he was confident the lead would hold up.
“We had to come out and try and sustain some energy,” Sims said. “We got a little momentum going.”