Michigan falls from first with 64-53 road loss

CHAMPAIGN - Playing before a capacity crowd is nothing new for Michigan.

Playing well in front of hostile fans may be.

Following one of their traditionally lethargic starts in both halves on the road, the Wolverines couldn't catch up yesterday, literally throwing the game away while losing 64-53 to Illinois (5-2 Big Ten, 13-7 overall) in front of a sellout crowd of 16,450 at Assembly Hall. The loss knocked them out of first place.

According to Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe, another "inspired team" toppled the Wolverines, but it was his team that fell short.

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Inside, Robert Traylor and the Wolverines were all right against Illinois. They had trouble from outside.

"Defensively, we played well enough to win, but offensively we didn't," he said. "We should have been playing well eoungh to beat this team."

Much like in previous road defeats at Bradley and Indiana, Michigan's late-first half run was insufficient. In each of those contests, as was true yesterday, the home team capitalized on Michigan's miscues.

"It's hard to play when you're down on the road," Travis Conlan said. In the closing 10 minutes, it was the Fighting Illini defense that clamped down on Michigan (5-2, 15-5) holding Michigan to its lowest scoring output this season.

The Wolverines shot just 27 percent in the second half and scored just 12 points in the final eight minutes. Mistakes continued to plague Michigan as nearly every player had a hand in the giveaways.

Maceo Baston's charge with 4:55 left, and clear-out foul on the next offensive possession proved emblematic of the struggles Michigan's big men faced. And with 2:07 left, the white flag was waved by Ellerbe, as a flu-stricken Robert Traylor took a bench seat after his fourth foul, watching as first place slipped aaway from the Wolverines.

Baston joined him on the bench a minute later, but not by choice, having fouled out for the fifth time this season.

Entering the game, Michigan's significant height advantage on the boards appeared to be a key to victory. But Illinois clamped down, attacking the glass with abandon, often sending four players to the glass, making it more difficult for Michigan to control the loose balls.

"They were sending four to the boards, while we were sending three," Traylor said.

While Illinois stayed with Michigan foul for foul, reaching the second-half bonus did little to benefit the Wolverines.

Michigan converted 9-of-13 free throws for the game, but only took five attempts after halftime - a factor that made a comeback too difficult.

Illinois' guards were too difficult for the Wolverines to contain. Kevin Turner led the way offensively with 17 points and point guard Matt Heldman fed those conversions.

Heldman "runs the team," Conlan said.

Heldman's statistical line reflected his contributions. He finished with seven points, seven rebounds and six assists. In direct contrast, Michigan guards Conlan and Robbie Reid combined to miss all 10 of their shots while turning the ball over eight times.

Second-half concern began to mount for Michigan when Robert Traylor sat down with 16:13 left in the second half with his third foul. The ensuing Illinois foul shots gave the Fighting Illini a nine-point lead at the 16-minute mark.

A 3-pointer from Turner extended the Illinois lead to 12 moments later and Michigan was again on its heels.

Illinois forward Brian Johnson's steal of an errant Reid pass - and subsequent conversion - with 13:31 left restored the 12-point advantage the Illini nearly maintained for the duration of the game.

The first half began with Michigan attacking the basket and attempting to take advantage of their superior size and post play.

But that strategy quickly dissolved as Traylor was forced to shoot jump shots instead of establishing position on the blocks.

"I got off to a slow start," Traylor said. "And the second half was the same."

After a few airballs, his confidence began to slide downhill and his teammates' followed.

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