Michigan's post players prove to be difference

ANN ARBOR — The men's basketball team had no answer
for Michigan's post players in its 87-60 loss today.

Michigan junior forward Courtney Sims had 20 points on
9-of-10 shooting, while senior forwards Graham Brown
and Chris Hunter combined for 14 points.

The post players shot a combined 13-of-16 from the
field.

“You got 20 points from your low post man (Sims),”
said CMU coach Jay Smith. “We just didn't get around
to fighting him.”

This was the season opener for both teams.

U-M's post players didn't just hurt CMU by scoring,
they also out rebounded it 37-21. Brown led all
players with 11 rebounds, while Sims added six.

“Courtney (Sims) was pretty darn efficient,” said
Michigan coach Tommy Amaker. “He was terrific on the
inside.”

The Wolverines jumped out to an early lead and never
relinquished it.

Michigan freshman guard Jerret Smith found senior wing
Lester Abram inside for a lay-up to increase the
Wolverines' lead to 36-17 with 4:14 left in the first
half.

And Abram drained a three-pointer to give Michigan a
44-26 lead at the half.

Sophomore point guard Giordan Watson scored CMU's
first seven points of the second half to cut the
Michigan lead to 11 at 47-36.

But a fourth foul put Watson on the bench for three
minutes with 15:35 remaining, and in that time
Michigan secured a 55-38 lead and took away any
momentum CMU gained in the quick second-half start.

“We moved the ball around at the beginning of the
second half,” Smith said. “In the first half they
stymied us. The adjustment was we got into motion
offense quicker.”

Watson led CMU with 15 points, including 12 in the
second half.

“We came out in the second half and stopped them seven
straight times,” Smith said. “I was really happy about
that. The biggest difference was that we dug ourselves
a hole in the first half.”

Michigan shot 60-percent from the field and hit
8-of-18 from behind the three-point line.

CMU freshman forward Chris Kellermann added 13 points
and four rebounds, while sophomore guard Eddie Spencer
had 12 points on 5-for-11 shooting.

Abram had 19 points for Michigan, while junior guard
Dion Harris had 13 points and shot 3-for-6 on
three-pointers.

CMU hosts Wisconsin-Green Bay 7 p.m. Monday at Rose
Arena.