Cagers run over by Tractor Traylor

Lifeless Lions outmuscled 77-61 by physical Wolverines on Senior Night

The honors, the accolades and the winning streaks didn't amount to anything against the Michigan Wolverines last night at The Bryce Jordan Center.

All that mattered to the Wolverines was their future in the Big Ten and the NCAA Tournaments, and Penn State was just a fly that needed to be swatted.

Which is what 300-pound Wolverine center Robert Traylor did as he blocked three shots, scored 16 points and pulled down a Jordan Center-record 17 rebounds in Michigan's 77-61 win over Penn State.

Sometimes third- and even fourth-chance opportunities as the Nittany Lions were outrebounded by the Wolverines 41-28. Traylor dominated the inside plucking rebound after rebound from Lion centers Calvin Booth and Scott Witkowsky.

"Traylor will push most people around," said Lion coach Jerry Dunn. "He's physical and strong. He wears most guys down. He's agile and skillful for his size."

And this was a game determined by size, whether it was indicated by physical mass or the sizable lead, the Wolverines held many proportions over the Lions.

In the first half, the Wolverines jumped out to a 20-7 lead. Penn State came as close as two with 14 minutes and 52 seconds left off a 10-foot jumper by Booth. The Wolverines opened it up by going on a 9-0 run, highlighted by a Louis Bullock 3-pointer and layup.

Penn State narrowed Michigan's lead to 10 off a Joe Crispin 3-pointer, but that was as close as the Lions would get for the rest of the game.

Execution the Lions didn't have, as the home team shot just 31 percent in the first half and 38 percent for the game. It looked, at times, as if Lion shooters were stymied by the Wolverines' defensive pressure.

"We played very much intimidated," said Lion guard Pete Lisicky. "I don't know why. Maybe the guys were just too excited thinking that we had a chance to beat Michigan. I don't know."

The night was supposed to be an evening to remember for Lisicky and walk-on guard Zack Walker because it was Senior Night, but it turned out to be one that they would like to forget.

"I didn't know what was going through my mind," said Lisicky, who scored a season-low five points. "I was just happy to see Zack get in the game. We didn't do anything we needed to win."

In scouting the Lions, Wolverine interim head coach Brian Ellerbe had his game plan finalized.

"We had three focuses," he said. "We wanted to keep ball pressure on Crispin so Peter (Lisicky) wouldn't see the ball unless Joe executed. We also wanted to get pressure on the screens they set for Pete and we were worried about (Jarrett) Stephens. He's a load inside."

Stephens, this week's co-Big Ten Player of the Week, scored just nine points in 26 minutes while pulling down four rebounds. Booth and Crispin were the only Lions to score in double figures with 18 and 11 respectively. Bullock finished with a game-high 25 points.

"Tomorrow, we'll have to regroup," Lisicky said. "We have to keep the mindset to keep winning and realize that there's still something to go after. We have to play together as a team."