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Nik Stauskas helps erase a 16-point second half deficit, Michigan tops Florida State in overtime

Mitch McGary

Michigan trailed by 16 points in the second half as Florida State was looking to close in on its second top-15 win in as many days. But behind the play of Nik Stauskas, who scored 23 of his career-high 26 points from the second half on, the Wolverines rallied to defeat the Seminoles 82-80 in overtime for a spot in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off championship game against Charlotte.

Off a timeout, Stauskas attacked the bucket to tie the score with eight seconds forcing, the extra five minutes. To start the overtime period, Glenn Robinson III hit a jumper that gave Michigan a 71-69 lead, the Wolverines’ first lead since 12-10, and one it would not give back.

Michigan started off with an early lead, sparked by 3-of-4 shooting from behind the arc. But the Florida State defense, the same defense that held VCU to a 29 percent shooting the night before, limited the Wolverines to just one made three in their final 10 attempts in the first half, entering the break with a 10-point edge.

Stauskas, along with Mitch McGary, sparked the comeback when Stauskas drove to the bucket for a two-handed slam with 13:30 to go. Michigan continued to attack the rack while the threes began to fall. It seemed things were going Michigan’s way when McGary off all people led the break, when he got tangled up, throwing the ball around his back, which went cross-court to Stauskas for a 3-pointer, which cut the lead to 52-46 with under 11 to play.

Less than 10 minutes in regulation, the lead got cut to 55-51 off a Spike Albrecht triple, but Montay Brandon scored eight straight points to create some separation for the Seminoles.

Late in the game, Michigan switched up its defense from a man-to-man to an extended 1-3-1 zone , which completely fooled the Florida State offense. Stauskas, Robinson and Caris Lavert -- all 6-foot-6 or taller -- caused chaos at the top of that extended zone, forcing five Florida State turnovers in the final four minutes of regulation, including one with 2.2 second, which gave Michigan as shot at the game-winner.

The Wolverines ended regulation on a 13-5 run.

Less than a week ago, the Wolverines suffered a 77-70 road loss in a tough environment to Iowa State. On Tuesday, No. 14 Michigan needed a second half comeback against an unranked, but talented Seminoles team. McGary, who is still coming back from that back condition, went for 16 points and 12 boards and Derrick Walton, the successor at point to Trey Burke, added 15 points, six assists and four boards, while taking a big charge at the bottom of that zone in overtime to go along with Stauskas’ big night.

Michigan and Charlotte meet in the final on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

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