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
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. The sophomore also hit a pair of 3s over an 80-second stretch midway through the second half to tie the game at 44. Michigan took its first lead moments later.
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, with the only other made basket being a Duncan Robinson shot at the halftime buzzer that 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).
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 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
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
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