The Herald-Palladium from Benton Harbor, Michigan • 14

-jr" PAGE FOURTEEN THE HERALD-PALLADIUM, Beitra Harbw-St. Joseph, Mlchigai Tuesday, April 4, 1989 title in OT an wins Michig first NCAA trailing 59-57 with 6:51 to play after a short Morton-jumper. Morton hit a 3-pointer from the left side of the key with 24 seconds to play, forging a 71-71 tie that stood at the end of regulation when Rice missed a short turnaround jumper in the lane. was shocked that I missed," I i i i SEATTLE (AP) Michigan has its'first national college basketball championship, and that's not bad for a month's work. The Wolverines beat Seton Hall '80-79 in overtime Monday night, making Steve Fisher the first rookie coach with an NCAA championship.

Fisher took over on an interim basis for Bill Frieder just before the NCAA tournament began and won all six of his games. He called the victory "a moment and an event that we will all have with us forever." But Fisher may he with Michigan a much shorter "time. Michigan athletic director Bo Schembechler has given Fisher no 'assurances, yet Fisher maintains he is a company man. And he is in some pretty good company at ment," Rice said, "but being the type of person I am, I feel I owe most of it to my teammates and coachesA Rumeal Robinson, the junior point guard, hit two free throws with three seconds left, giving Michigan its victory in the first overtime title game since 1963. Robinson had 21 points, and his 11 assists were a single-game touran-ment record.

And Sean Higgins scored 10 points while holding Seton Hall's hired gun from Australia, Andrew Gaze, to just five points, including a lone 3-point field goal that did not come until the opening seconds of overtime. In Gaze's virtual absence, John Morton took over, scoring 25 of his 35 points in the second half 20 of Seton Hall's final 26 points in regulation. "I have to think for an observer who didn't care who won, it had to be a terrific, terrific game- to watch," Fisher said. "It was emotionally draining for the players fought game for the national championship would be decided at the line. Seton Hall had a final chance as center Ramon Ramos took the ball out of bounds under the Michigan basket with three seconds left a He threw a baseball pass downcourt.

Both Greene and Seton Hall tor-ward Daryll Walker went up for it. Walker came down with the ball, but his awkward, one-handed push shot bounced hard off the glass and fell into Rice's hands. While Seton Hall's trademark defense had kept them in this game, it was Michigan's defense that put on the final touches. The Pirates were held scoreless over the final 2:41. "They played a little bit better than we did today' Seton Hall coach P.J.

Carlesimo very difficult to put this in perspective. I'm enormously proud of the team and the way we played. They made some tremendous shots, we made some. They made some free throws, and we missed, some. "It's a little difficult to put it into perspective because we're so disappointed." Seton Hall, ranked 11th at the end of the season, wound up 31-7 with the most victories in its history after its first trip to the Final Four.

Michigan, ranked 10th at season's end, also set a school record for victories at 30-7. Rice said, "I felt open, and when I released it, I thought it was going in. But it took a couple of bad bounces, and that happens some-times." With 2:41 left in overtime, a Morton 3-pointer put Seton Hall ahead 79-76. After Rice and Higgins each missed jumpers, Gerald Greene was fouled at the other end of the floor by Robinson. There was 1:17 left, and Greene went to the line for a 1-and-l.

His first shot bounced off the back rim, and, with 56 seconds left, was controlled by Michigan. Terry Mills hit a-short jumper that pulled Michigan to 79-78. With 10 seconds left, Morton threw up an off-balance airball from the lane, and Michigan got the rebound. Robinson brought the ball up-court for the Wolverines, drove into the lane and, before he could put up a shot, was fouled by Greene. Greene thought the Call by referee John Clougherty could have gone either way.

"I saw him pentrating to the hole, and I tried to cut him Greene said. "We collided, and the ref called it on me. I thought he could also have called it an offensive Clougherty's whistle was a bit of a shock, though, in a game that had been rather loosely called. A hard- Michigan. Jlen Rice scored 31 points for the Wolveritevjjreaking Bill Brad ley's 1965 NCAA-tQurriament scoring record.

In six'games, Rice "wound up with 184 points-lor an -average of 30.6. That was coacnesjj sure, ior Doin mnva tian Rrollav haA tnr ie8mS. than Bradley had for more Princeton, although that was in live games. In his final collegiate game, Rice WINNING TOSS: Michigan guard Rumeal Robinson eyes the hoop as he puts up the winning free throw against Seton Hall Monday night in Seattle. Robinson sank two free throws with three seconds left in overtime to give Wolverines 80-79 victory.

(AP LaserphotO) Michigan led by as many as points in the second 51-39, on a driVing, reverse slamndunk by the 6-foot-2 Robinson, the top of whose head is.3-feet 10-inches below the nm. Seton Hall went on its own run, outscoring Michigan 14-6 and -t also became the Big Ten Confer-'wence's all-time leading scorer, ,7, breaking the record of another lq Michigan alumnus, Mike McGee. "It's a great individual achieve- Rice sets NCAA and Big Ten scoring marks in win mentum had swung Seton Hall's way. Rice missed a 15-foot jumper that would have won it for Michigan in the closing seconds of regulation. "I honestly thought I'd madejthat shot," said Rice then canned a 10-foot bank shot to give Michigan a quick lead in the extra session: Seton Hall took a 79-76 lead with 2:41 left in the overtime, but didn't score the remainder of the way: dogged him all over the court Andrew Gaze, John Morton, Daryll Walker and Michael Cooper.

He made five 3-pointers, four in the second half, and a succession of two-point jumpers from-i8 on "He's got size, quickness and a fast release," Gaze said. "It's very hard to defend a guy like that. Any shot he got off, I felt was going to go down whether I was there or not." Did someone say rebounding? Rice SEATTLE (AP) Whether he was in the Jane on the move or firing from long range, tRice was nice. "1 So step aside, Bill Bradley, and make "way for Glen Rice, the fluid Michigan for- Ward whose every jump shot is a clinic in the art of flicking a basketball through the hoop, "There is no finer shooter in college basketball than Glen Rice, no finer shooter," said Steve Fisher, Michigan's interim coach. "I think he showed it in this tourna- -ment." indeed.

With his 31 points in Michigan's 80-79 victory over Seton Hall in the Here's what Rice accomplished: In six NCAA tournament games, he scored 184 points, topping the 177 that Bradley, now a U.S. senate from of all places Seton Hall's home state of New Jersey, scored iri five games for Princeton in the 1965 tournament. Rice shot 57.3 percent from the field in the tournament series and made 55 percent of his 3-pointers. Rice concluded his Michigan career with a Big Ten-record 2,442 points. Another Michigan star, Mike McGee, set the old record of 2,439 from 1978-81.

His 31 points Monday night came against four different defenders who NCAA championship game Monday night, Rice broke Bradley's single-season scoring record in NCAA games and became the all-time leading scorer in the Big Ten Conference. And just for good measure, the 6-foot-7 senior who'll take his feathery touch to the NBA next season was voted the outstanding player of the Final Four. Rice, wearing a net around his neck, accepted his accolades modestly. "I think overall it's a great individual achievement," he said, "but I feel I owe most of the credit to my teammates and coaches. Without them, the accomplishments I made wouldn't be possible." also led Michigan with 11 rebounds.

On the night, Rice hit 12 of 25 shots from He also canned two clutch three-poinf floor, the first he was wider 50 bombs to keep right Ricje, Robinson aren't only heroes of U-M's championship Michigan ahead at 64-59 am percent when it seemed like the mo of-two fore the game, 'Everybody says-how' tough defensively Seton Hall is. Let's go out and show them who the best defensive team Griffin said. "I think we had incredible character." On Saturday night, in Michigan's semifinal victory over Illinois, Griffin had frustrated Kendall Gill. When Griffin wasn't guarding Gaze, the job went to Sean Higgins. Known for his vast offensive talents he scored 31 in the regional final -against Virginia Higgins -scored only 10 points.

His contribution came in his defense, and in his nine rebounds, which were second' only to Rice's 11. There were others who had a turn. 1 Terry Mills, the 6-foot-10 center, scored eight points with six rebounds. And he made it known that coming inside would carry a penalty his three blocks and two steals led the team. fin i WAY TO GO POP: Steve Fisher, Michigan's in- downed Seton Hall in overtime 80-79 in the terim basketb.aU coach, celebrates with his two NCAA Championship game Monday night in Se-sons, Mark and Jonathan, after the Wolverines attle.

(AP Laserphoto) Another Ricemm SEATTLE (AP) Give Glen Rice and Rumeal Robinson the heroes' headlines. Give their teammates championship watches, Rice scored 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Monday night in the Wolverines' 80-79 victory over Seton Hall. Robinson had 21 points including the game-winning free throws with three seconds left and 11 assists. But they didn't work alone. Several others had a hand in Michigan's first basketball title.

Blue chippers and blue collars. Not all of them are stars, but all are now champions, Look at Mike Griffin. The senior forward didn't score a point in 17 minutes of playing time. What he did do help make life miserable for Andrew Gaze, Seton Hall's best outside shooter. Gaze made only one of five shots and scored five points.

"Coach (Steve) Fisher told us be Carolina in the semifinals of the west Regionals last "You know. I'd foreotten that." said Griffin. "But we're the national champions now. We can forget it." Glen Rice scored 31 points in his final collegiate grfme and hit five 3-pointers. His performance left his teammates searching for new ways to describe their admiration for him.

"Glen Rice is a great player and a great person," said Higgins, a sophomore who made the game-winning basket against Illinois Saturday. "The team he goes to in the NBA is going to get itself a tremendous talent." Do the Wolverines think Rice is better than Duke's Danny Ferry? "I don't know if I want to answer that question," said Griffin. "Let's just say his performance tonight in a clutch game says it all. He showed what he's capable of doing." Michigan's band played "Hail To The Victors" 14 times during the game. V.

in the tournament, and was two- from the free throw line. Forward: Loy Vaught, the second-best shooter by percentage in the nation this season, took only eight shots against Seton Hall, making half of them. He grabbed seven rebounds, though, including five on the defensive end, as Michigan won the fight under the backboards, 45-36. Mark Hughes and Demetrius Calip played Monday night, too. They didn't shine in 25 and 11 minutes.

But they did. contribute. This championship was unlikely, if only because thejvolverines lost their coach, Bill ViederViwo days before the tournament and were turned over to the assistant, Steve Fisher. No team had made it to the Final Four with an interim coach. "It presented a lot of adversity to us, and we overcame that," Griffin said.

"We had something to prove. We grew a lot closer together because we knew there be a lot of attention on us." SMALL ENGINE RECYCLERS "Reconditioned" Mowers For Sale I Complete Service On All Makes cnecx our low upa Rates Boy" Repair Our Specialty Phone 423-2521 695-5778 Seven Day Service Many Used Pans A It SEATTLE XAP), Monday night's NCAA championship game jimakes it 3-for-3 this year for ath-3 letes named Rice. Michigan's Glen Rice was the Most Outstanding Player for lead- ing the Wolverines to their over- time victory against Seton Hall for 3 college basketball's national cham- pionship. Before that, San Francisco's Jer- ryvRice was the Most' Valuable 'Player in the 49ers' Super Bowl vie- tory over the Cincinnati Bengals i and Notre. Dame's Tony Rice was the most valuable player when the Irish won the college football na- tional championship with a Fiesta victory over West Virginia.

Does this mean a big comeback (yearfor Boston Red Sox' Jim Rice? r- after Michigan's first Js endorsement in the Michigan' dressing room after Michigan's biggest basketball victory ever; I'd love to see Coach Fisher back," said 6-foot-9 'senior forward Loy Vaught, who had eight points in the win. "Bo spoke to us players after the game and he told us he would make a decision in two weeks. But I can't see any way Coach Fisher won't get the job, He deserves it." Fisher went 6-0 as the Michigan head coach; becoming the first coach in NCAA history to win the title in his first season. Rumeal Robinson's mother, Mrs. Helen Ford of Cambridge, knew her son could do the job ior Michigan when the junior 'guard toed the free throw line with three' seconds left, Robinson made a pair of free throws to give the Wolverines their one-point win.

"I knew he would do it," said Mrs. Ford, still wiping tears from her eyes minutes after the game; "I knew he would get the job done. I just knew we were going to get the victory." i Michigan's first NCAA basketball, title came on the same King-dome floor where they lost to North St Joe Auto Body and Repair 820 HIGHLAND AVE. ST. JOSEPH, MICH.

983-1414 OUR GOAL To ofer tfw Sex In QuaHtt. Comptetr AuU Body Rept gtwmttt KEN THAR, 4 4 NCAA basketball championship, athletic director Bo Schembechler -still wouldn't say if interim coach Steve Fisher had earned the permanent job. i Schembechler brushed past reporters after meeting with the Michigan players and coaches for 10 minutes after the Wolverines' 80-79 overtime win over Seton Hall for the national title. But Michigan's longtime football coach did say, This one was al- mnet lilrs hootino Nntro rtamA Later he said, "Well, we'll go back and I think we ought to interview Steve Fisher." Fisher, who took over the Wolverines from Bill Frieder when Frieder left Ann Arbor before the tournament to go to Tempe, to coach Arizona State, got a strong wins wager some last-minute best wishes Monday night. "He praised him (Fisher) and the team for their great efforts and said not only is all of the state rooting for them, but everybody is proud of their accomplishments as they approach this final challenge," Scott said.

Scott said Blanchard was Unable to attend the game in Seattle because of scheduling difficulties but planned to watch it on television. Blanchard didn't indicate to Fisher whether he thinks Fisher should be named the permanent replacement for Coach Bill Frieder, who took the head coaching job at Arizona State, Scott said. frt- EASY TWO: Michigan guard Rumeal Robinson (21) goes up for a layup as Seton Hall forward Daryll Walker (24) defends during first half action, in the NCAA Basketball Championship game Monday in Seattle. Seton Hall forward Andrew Gaze (10) watches at right. (AP Laserphoto) pBlanchard LANSING, Mich.

(AP) State pride, not just the NCAA basketball championship, was at stake when Michigan squared off against Seton Hall Michigan went to overtime to beat Seton Hall 80-79 Monday night. Michigan Gov. James Blanchard and Jersey Gov. Tom Kean had placed a friendly wager on the outcome of the same. Blanchard's spokesman Tom Scott said.

"The winning school will pick up another booster. That's because the losing governor will wear the win- ning school's sweat shirt for part of a day sometime in the near fu-; kture," Scott said. Scott said Blanchard also called interim coach Steve Fisher with ATTENTION BOY'SGIRL'S IT'S STILL NOT TOO LATE I EATON PARK NORTH LINCOLN BASEBALLSOFTBALL SlGN-UP'S LOCATION: ST. JOSEPH TOWNSHIP HALL 3000 WASHINGTON-AVE. ST.

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