'M' hoops falters to CBA team

By Dan Williams

Daily Sports Writer

While most men's basketball exhibition games reveal little about the impending season, Michigan's contest with the CBA's Grand Rapids Hoops at Crisler Arena should serve as an important building block.

The Wolverines fell to Grand Rapids, 71-70, after junior Leon Jones missed a free throw to tie the game with less than two seconds remaining. Jones missed the third and final free throw, after he was fouled by on a three-point attempt.

"It kind of stuck to my hand," Jones said about the final miss.

Michigan fell behind from the opening and stumbled to a 41-30 half deficit. But the Wolverines charged back in the second half behind the scoring potency of freshman Bernard Robinson.

Robinson hit for 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting, with 16 points coming in the second half. Robinson also knocked down four of seven 3-pointers.

"Today I felt like I had to step up," Robinson said. "I wasn't surprised. Today I showed I can score."

Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said he felt strongly that Robinson's scoring pres sence

sence correlated to the absence of sophomore LaVell Blanchard. Blanchard, who missed the game with a sprained ankle, is expected to be Michigan's leading scorer for the second consecutive year.

Ellerbe said Blanchard should be able to return to practice by the end of the week.

In a close game without Blanchard, Ellerbe saw who he can count on to rise to the occasion in tight situations. While Robinson led the way, fellow freshman Maurice Searight also performed impressively, running the point for most of the second half.

"Maurice Searight did a really good job of getting us in our offense," Ellerbe said.

Freshman center Josh Moore scored 12 points in his Michigan debut. The game may mark the first and only time in his career that the 7-foot-2 center competed against someone substantially larger than him, as Moore battled 7-foot-4 Priest Lauderdale. Moore had trouble boxing out in the first half against Grand Rapids' tall lineup, but by the end of the game looked more comfortable in the paint defensively.

Michigan's only other player in double figures was sophomore Gavin Groninger, who scored 10 points.

The game marked the return of two former Michigan players - Grand Rapids center Eric Riley and coach Mark Hughes - to Crisler.

"The weirdest part was being in the visitor's locker room," Hughes said. "But it does feel good to be back."

Michigan's final exhibition game is Sunday at Crisler against Wayne State at 1 p.m.

JEFF HURVITZ/Daily

Michigan forward Bernard Robinson scored 28 points in his first performance as a Wolverine.