Wolverines survive late charge

Michigan tops Bradley 74-66

12/2/2012

PEORIA, Ill. — Freshman Nik Stauskas scored 22 points in his first start and No. 3 Michigan survived a late run to beat Bradley 74-66 on Saturday.

Stauskas started for Matt Vogrich and delivered early with eight first-half points to help the Wolverines (7-0) hold onto a narrow halftime lead, 34-30.

Walt Lemon, Jr., led Bradley (5-2) on a late run to close to 70-65 with half a minute to play. The Braves were forced to foul and the Wolverines held on to win.

Trey Burke added 16 in the Wolverines' first trip to Bradley since 1997. Glenn Robinson III scored 13 and Jordan Morgan scored 10 and pulled down 10 rebounds.

Lemon and fellow guard Dyricus Simms-Edwards kept two of those weapons, Burke and Tim Hardaway, Jr., under control.

When Lemon glided to the basket with 26 seconds left in the first half and delivered a soft, easy layup, the Braves were down just 34-30, exciting the crowd.

Lemon led Bradley with 15 points. Tyshon Pickett added 11 for the Braves and Will Egolf chipped in 10.

Egolf picked up his fourth foul early in the second and headed to the bench for most of the final 20 minutes. With him out, the game turned and the Braves found they couldn't account for Stauskas.

Just under four minutes into the second half, he buried a 3-pointer — he hit four of his five 3s — that put Michigan up 42-32.

The shot was part of 13-4 run that helped the Wolverines buy some breathing room, up 45-34.

Lemon orchestrated Bradley's late run. His layup with 28 seconds to play cut the deficit to 70-65.

The Braves were forced to foul and the rally ended.