EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) -- Vedran Vukusic scored 26 points and Mohamed Hachad added 14 to lead Northwestern to a 69-53 victory over Michigan on Saturday night.
Northwestern (14-13, 6-8 Big Ten) opened the game with 24-2 run. Senior walk-on Michael Jenkins led the spurt. First, he converted a four-point play when he was fouled on his 3-point field goal. Then, on their next possession, Jenkins tried to hit Hachad with an alley-oop pass, but the ball went in the hoop and counted as a 3-pointer.
Vukusic followed that up with another 3-pointer, making it 24-2 with 12:03 left in the first half.
Northwestern extended that lead to 30-6 before the Wolverines began clawing their way back.
Michigan (13-16, 4-11) committed six turnovers in the first seven minutes of the game, however, they managed to cut Northwestern's lead to 33-23 on Ron Coleman's 3 late in the first half.
They trailed 36-23 at the break.
Despite their best efforts, the Wolverines were only able to get within 10 points in the second half.
Brent Petway made two free throws to cut Northwestern's lead to 45-35 with 12:55 left, but Northwestern scored eight straight points.
Vukusic and Vince Scott hit back-to-back 3's. Scott finished the game with 12 points, while Jenkins had nine.
Coleman scored 13 points for Michigan and Dion Harris added 12.
After opening up the Big Ten season 3-0, the Wolverines have lost 11 of their last 12 games. They beat Northwestern 71-61 at home on Jan. 12.
