College Sports

Michigan rallies to beat Northwestern, 72-63

Posted February 24, 2016 6:00 am

By RICH REZLER

Michigan guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (12) tries to get to the basket, defended by Northwestern center Alex Olah (22), of Romania, in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016. Michigan won 72-63. (AP Photo/Tony Ding) The Associated Press

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Muhammad-Ali Abdur Rahkman scored 19 points and Aubrey Dawkins broke Michigan out of its long-distance shooting slump in time to salvage a 72-63 win over Northwestern on Wednesday night.

A Dawkins 3-pointer put the Wolverines (20-9, 10-6 Big Ten) ahead for good, 57-54, with 4:18 left to keep Michigan's NCAA Tournament hopes alive. The sophomore also hit a pair of 3s over an 80-second stretch midway through the second half to tie it at 44. Michigan took its first lead moments later on a free throw by Kameron Chatman.

It was a needed boost for a Michigan team that entered the game shooting 40 percent from behind the 3-point line and making a Big Ten-best 10.2 per game. The Wolverines were 4 of 14 from behind the arc Wednesday, missing their first nine attempts before a Duncan Robinson shot from the corner at the halftime buzzer pulled Michigan within 29-28.

Dawkins finished with 11 points and Derrick Walton Jr. added 16 for Michigan.

Alex Olah scored 19 points and grabbed five rebounds for Northwestern (17-11, 5-10), matching his best offensive output in the nine games he's played since missing six contests with a foot injury.

The 7-foot senior center eclipsed his season average of 10.6 points with 5:27 left in the first half and followed that with just his seventh 3-point basket of the year two possessions later to finish with 14 first-half points.

Olah dominated Michigan twice last season, averaging 23.5 points in two games, including a 25-point performance that remains his career high.

Tre Demps and Aaron Falzon each scored 14 points for the Wildcats, who led by as many as 13 in the first half.

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TIP-INS

Michigan: The Wolverines missed their first eight shots and didn't score their first points until a Zak Irvin drive nearly six minutes into the game made it 10-2. They would answer with a 13-2 run moments later - seven from Abdur-Rahkman - to pull within 19-17.

Northwestern: Northwestern was playing for the first time in eight days, the longest break in its schedule since early December. It was also the third time this season a Big Ten opponent had a bye in its league schedule before playing Michigan.

UP NEXT

Northwestern hosts Rutgers on Saturday.

Michigan plays at Wisconsin on Sunday.

Michigan guard Derrick Walton Jr. (10) tries to go to the basket, defended by Northwestern guard Bryant McIntosh, right, in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016. Michigan won 72-63. (AP Photo/Tony Ding) The Associated Press

Michigan guard Aubrey Dawkins (24) makes a layup, defended by Northwestern center Alex Olah (22), of Romania, in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016. Michigan won 72-63. (AP Photo/Tony Ding) The Associated Press

Michigan guard Derrick Walton Jr. (10) defends Northwestern guard Sanjay Lumpkin (34) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Tony Ding) The Associated Press

Michigan guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (12) defends a pass from Northwestern guard Tre Demps, back, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Tony Ding) The Associated Press

Northwestern forward Gavin Skelly, left, celebrates with center Alex Olah (22), of Romania, after making a basket in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Tony Ding) The Associated Press

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