Wolverines Shock No. 4 UCLA

The Michigan basketball team improved to 3-0 on the season with a shocking 55-52 win over No. 4 UCLA on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. Down by six points at the half, the Wolverines rallied, shooting 62% in the second stanza and taking a three point lead with just over two minutes left, then held on as Manny Harris made two free throws and blocked a last second shot.

NEW YORK -- DeShawn Sims, Manny Harris and Stu Douglass all scored in double-digits on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden as the Michigan basketball team (3-0) shocked the No. 4 UCLA Bruins 55-52.

The Wolverines, who now draw No. 5 Duke Friday night in the championship round of the 2008 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, trailed the Bruins by six points at the half with an abysmal 1-for-12 three-point shooting performance in the opening frame; but U-M shot 4-for-8 behind the arc in the second half, including a pivotal go-ahead three from Douglass with just less then four minutes left on the clock.

Douglass then recorded an assist on the Wolverines' next possession, a two-point layup by Sims that gave Michigan a 51-48 lead with 2:28 to go. UCLA pulled back within a basket in the final minute, but U-M wing Anthony Wright found Sims slashing to the hoop in the final seconds to reestablish a two possession Michigan lead.

The Bruins pulled within a point one final time with a three-ball with five seconds left, but Harris connected on a pair of free throws, and then blocked UCLA's last-second shot attempt, to end the scoring.

In the opening minutes of the game it appeared it would be all UCLA. Starting the game on a 9-1 run, the Bruins held Michigan over five minutes without a field goal to start the contest.

Michigan trimmed the lead to 9-7 with a pair of Manny Harris layups and a bucket from DeShawn Sims, but the Bruins quickly responded. James Keefe scored in the paint to give the Bruins their second eight-point edge at 18-10 with 9:24 in the half. Michigan closed within one for the first time, but UCLA ended the half with a brief run to enter the break leading 29-23.

The second half opened with an 10-2 Michigan run that put the Wolverines ahead for the first time of the contest. A three-ball each from Harris and Douglass, plus a quick two from each as well, gave U-M the lead at 33-31.

By the 11 minute mark U-M had built it's biggest lead of the game at 40-36. UCLA, however, again battled back. Darren Collison rattled off seven straight UCLA points as the Bruins retook the lead at 47-46 with 5:01 to go.

Stu Douglass, though, answered with his late go-ahead three as Michigan went on top for good.

Now 3-0, the Wolverines meet Duke on Friday night in the championship round of the 2008 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.