Reid and Wolverines go for the jugular in thrilling upset of Indiana

Asselin adds career high as Michigan post players answer call

It is a gesture that is undeniably reserved for big plays. And in last night's victory over No. 8 Indiana, few plays were larger than this one.

Michigan guard Robbie Reid had just canned a 3-pointer to give Michigan a 67-52 advantage - its largest of the game - with 8:33 to play in the game. Although there was plenty of time for the Hoosiers to mount a comeback, Michigan and the frenzied Crisler Arena crowd sensed the upset.

Reid backpedaled down the court, pumping his fist as the crowd bordered on hysteria.

SARA STILLMAN/Special to the Daily Robbie Reid continued his stellar play, pouring in 15 points to help Michigan beat Indiana, its third ranked opponent of the season. The Wolverines are now 2-1 in Big Ten play.

And then he did it.

As he crossed halfcourt, Reid defiantly slid his finger across his throat, signaling the figurative death of Hoosiers' chances. The senior co-captain was in full view of Indiana coach Bobby Knight, who was already having a pretty rough day.

A murmur went up in the crowd. 'Isn't it a little early for that?' it seemed to say. After all, the talented Hoosiers were definitely capable of coming back in the game. And maybe such an affront would be just what Indiana needed.

"I got a little emotional out there," Reid said. "But I felt pretty good about our team at that point."

And he had every reason to. Because, while the crowd may have winced at the gesture, Reid knew something that both the Crisler fans and the Hoosiers didn't.

He knew that on this night, a Michigan team that had been victimized by opponents' second-half runs would instead put together a run of its own.

Down three at the half, Michigan went on a ferocious run, outscoring the Hoosiers 21-6 in the first nine minutes of the half. Louis Bullock hit 3-pointers on three straight trips down the floor during the stretch, and things seemed over when Reid nailed the crucial three a few minutes later.

He also knew that Michigan's much-maligned frontcourt tandem of Josh Asselin and Peter Vignier, which had pulled a disappearing act in Michigan's first two Big Ten games, would produce for 25 points and 14 rebounds.

Asselin poured in career highs with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and forced many of the Hoosiers' post players into foul trouble trying to guard him.

Talk about a role reversal for the sophomore, who has been in foul trouble for what seems like the whole season.

Asselin still fouled out yesterday, but with just one foul at the half, his playing time was never limited because of it. This lack of early fouls allowed Asselin to be aggressive and make plays like his challenge of Lynn Washington's dunk that resulted in just his third foul with nine minutes to play.

That's the kind of aggressiveness Ellerbe has been looking for from Asselin for the entire season. And when Asselin left to a standing ovation with 1:53 to play, he had been just as instrumental as Reid or Louis Bullock in the Wolverines' upset victory.

"It just shows that if we step up and play aggressive, we can play with anybody," Asselin said of the frontcourt's play. "If we throw it in the post, good things are going to happen."

Reid must have known all these things, which is why he felt confident enough to make such a bold gesture. And even as Indiana roared back, cutting Michigan's lead to 71-68 with 4:34 left, Reid wasn't worried.

Just to prove it, Reid hit another crucial three with just under a minute remaining, giving Michigan a 81-70 advantage and truly putting the nail in the Hoosiers' coffin.

And if Reid's fortune-telling proves as accurate as it was last night, things could be turning around for the Wolverines.

"Tonight, we proved to ourselves that we're here to play," Reid said after the game. "If we play hard, we're going to be in every game."

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