Dec. 2, 2009

• John Beilein Postgame Press Conference: Video
• Box Score |  Notes |  Photo Gallery 
• Audio Quotes: Coach John Beilein - WWJ | Presser | Zack Novak | Zack Gibson

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Arena)
Event: ACC/Big Ten Challenge
Score: Boston College 62, Michigan 58
Records: U-M (3-3), Boston College (5-2)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Dec. 5 -- vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Crisler Arena), 2 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Despite a furious rally to close the game, the University of Michigan men's basketball team could not overcome a 10-point halftime deficit in a 62-58 loss to Boston College in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday night (Dec. 2) at Crisler Arena. Junior guard Manny Harris (Detroit, Mich./Redford) once again led the way for the Wolverines with 19 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.

Boston College attacked the basket early to jump out to a 23-12 lead with 9:05 to play in the first half behind 16 points in the paint. A Harris layup capped a 6-0 run for the Wolverines that cut the lead to five, but BC junior Corey Raji answered the Wolverine spurt with two consecutive baskets to push the lead to 29-18 with 3:37 left.

Raji led all scorers in the half with 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field. Michigan shot just 4-for-17 from three-point range (23.5 percent) and went into the locker room trailing 34-24.

The Eagles opened the second half with a 7-0 run, but the Wolverines responded following a timeout as an authoritative Harris dunk sparked the Wolverines. Zack Novak's (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) third three-pointer of the night followed and sophomore Stu Douglass (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) capped the run with a fast-break layup that cut the deficit to 41-31 with 16:26 to play.

After facing their largest deficit (17) with 5:05 left, the Wolverines clawed their way back in the next two minutes with back-to-back triples from senior Zack Gibson (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc). A trip to the charity stripe and two more free throws from Harris lowered the deficit to nine.

Harris continued his aggressive second-half play with a three-pointer off the glass that narrowed the gap to 57-51 with just under two minutes to play. He finished with 13 points in the second half, but U-M was unable to complete the comeback. Senior DeShawn Sims (Detroit, Mich./Pershing) was held in check most of the night by the Eagles' defense and battled foul trouble, finishing with just four points and three rebounds in 23 minutes of action.

U-M finished the game shooting only 21-for-65 from the field (32.3 percent), while Boston College shot 46.9 percent (23-of-49) from the floor. Raji finished with 24 points and nine rebounds to lead the Eagles, while forward Joe Trapani recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The Wolverines look to get back in the win column this Saturday (Dec. 5) when they welcome Arkansas - Pine Bluff to Crisler Arena at 2 p.m. The game will be webcasted on BigTenNetwork.com.

Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423