Michigan caps rebound with win over Rutgers

The Wolverines contained freshman Quincy Douby.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Michigan began the basketball season with a chance, and ended it with a championship.
The Wolverines, whose appeal of NCAA sanctions was granted in September and made them eligible for postseason play, beat Rutgers 62-55 to win the National Invitation Tournament on Thursday night.
It was a first step back to respectability for the Wolverines (23-11), who hadn't played any postseason basketball since 2000. And its significance was not lost on coach Tommy Amaker, in his third season directing the reconstruction of the program.
"We are very proud of the accomplishment to win this prestigious tournament," Amaker said. "To learn we became postseason eligible at the beginning of the year, we tried to make a move this season and I think our players have done that in a fine fashion to make our university proud."
Douby contained
Coming off a 35-point game against Iowa State in the semifinals, Rutgers' hotshot freshman Quincy Douby became senior Bernard Robinson Jr's assignment. The first-year player missed 12 of his 13 shots and was never a factor.
"He was quick going over the screens," Douby said of Robinson. "He's a lot stronger and he had a couple of inches on me. It was just hard getting my shot. He fronted me and was riding me. They did a great job."
Douby's troubles were part of a 3-for-19 night on 3-pointers for Rutgers.
"We live by the 3 a great deal," coach Gary Waters said. "When you shoot 3-for-19, that's going to hurt you."
Michigan wasn't much better from outside, shooting just 4-for-16 and having eight shots blocked by Herve Lamizana, who led all scorers with 19 points and added 10 rebounds.
But Lamizana's double-double was wasted.
"He just needed a little more help, and that just didn't happen," Waters said.
Late surge
Rutgers made a pretty good run at it, using a 15-2 surge to erase a 12-point Michigan lead and edging in front at 44-43 on a basket by Ricky Shields with just under 11 minutes remaining. But Dion Harris responded with a 3-pointer to get Michigan back in front.
After Juel Wiggan tied it for Rutgers, a defensive breakdown gave Robinson an easy basket with 7:37 remaining and the Wolverines had the lead for good.
Robinson then converted three free throws in a 9-0 run that sealed the victory for Michigan.
Daniel Horton, the tournament MVP, led Michigan with 14 points, and Harris had 13.