Down Goes No. 4 Duke!!

Up by two points at halftime, the Michigan basketball team improved to 6-2 on the season with a surprising 81-73 upset over No. 4 Duke on Saturday afternoon. Michigan was led by junior DeShawn Sims who had a career high of 28 points, plus 12 rebounds. Manny Harris added 17 points in the upset win.

ANN ARBOR -- The Michigan basketball team improved to 6-2 with another shocking upset, this time knocking off No. 4 Duke 83-71 on Saturday afternoon at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor. Up 32-30 at the half, Michigan outlasted Duke down the stretch and never trailed over the final eight minutes to seal the win.

Michigan was led offensively by DeShawn Sims who finished with 28 points, a new career high, plus 12 rebounds. Manny Harris contributed with 17 points and a pair of assists. Zack Novak set a career high with 14 points including back-to-back triples to put Michigan on top for good.

Battling the heavily-favored Blue Devils and registering a two-point lead at the break, the Wolverines emerged on top late in the second half.

After a quick two from Stu Douglass pushed the Michigan lead to four, and after Duke rallied to tie it with four straight of their own, Sims took over. A three-pointer pushed Michigan up 37-34 three minutes into the half. After Duke's Kyle Singler matched it, Sims put Michigan back up with an inside basket to make it 39-37.

Duke rallied to take its biggest lead of the second half, a 44-40 lead, shortly after, and again it was Sims that answered the bell. A strong finish inside, plus a jumper, sandwiched around a Manny Harris layup, put Michigan back up 46-44 with 13 to go.

Nolan Smith tied it quickly for Duke, and the teams exchanged buckets until a Lance Thomas layup gave Duke a 53-50 lead with 8:43 left.

Novak then answered with his back-to-back three's, and Michigan again led 56-53. They never relinquished that lead.

Manny Harris answered a Duke bucket to push the score to 58-55. Sims then added four straight to make it 62-55. Another pair of free throws minutes later made it 68-59.

The Wolverines then scored 11 of their final 13 points from the free throw line. Duke hit four late three-pointers to remain in the contest.

The Wolverines are now off for a week before hosting Eastern Michigan at Crisler Arena next Saturday.