No. 15 Michigan Wins 77-55

The No. 15-ranked Michigan basketball team is now 2-0 on the season with a 77-55 win over Houston Baptist on Friday night at Crisler Arena. Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims combined to score 47 points.

ANN ARBOR - No. 15 Michigan improved to 2-0 on the new basketball season with a 77-55 win over Houston Baptist on Friday night at Crisler Arena. Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims combined to score 47 points for the Wolverines as U-M emerged from a slow start to build a late first half lead and cruise through the final 20 minutes.

The heavily favored Wolverines didn't take their first lead of the contest until a Zack Gibson three-point play put Michigan on top 17-16 with 7:42 left in the first half. It sparked a 26-16 Michigan run over the final minutes.

DeShawn Sims connected on four triples during the run. The Wolverines final 18 points of the half all came off the hands of either Sims or Manny Harris, who finished with a game-high 25 points plus eight rebounds.

A pair of Harris jumpers sandwiched around a three-ball by Zack Novak and a jumper by DeShawn Sims helped Michigan push the lead to 52-36 just less than four minutes into the second half. Seven minutes later the lead balloned to 27 points.

A Darius Morris lay up, plus free throws by Morris and Sims, made it 66-44. Sims then hit another long ball, followed by a three-pointer by sophomore Stu Douglass to make it 72-45.

Over the final minutes Houston Baptist pulled back within 21 points. Mario Flaherty led Houston Baptist with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Andrew Gonzalez added 14 points as well.

No. 15 Michigan is now 2-0 and returns to the floor on Thursday afternoon at Crisler arena. The Creighton Blujays come to Ann Arbor as the Wolverines look to improve to 3-0 on Thanksgiving day.