Unlikely duo makes most of opportunity

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Right from the start of Saturday’s game, the Michigan Wolverines built a lead and maintained it for the majority of the contest. The Hoosiers searched for some way to cut the deficit and overtake the lead, but their top scorer, junior forward D.J. White, was benched with four fouls and the guards couldn’t find their shooting touch. \nThe Hoosiers finally found a way back into the game, though, and with two unlikely players – senior guard Errek Suhr and junior forward Mike White.\nMike White scored a team-high 11 points, while Suhr tallied 10 in the Hoosiers’ 58-55 loss to Michigan on Saturday at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.\nAlthough the players’ efforts came up just short, IU coach Kelvin Sampson said he was proud of what his team accomplished down the stretch of the game.\n“D.J. (White) having to sit down for that length of time obviously hurts this team,” he said. “But I thought the last 12 to 14 minutes of the game our kids played with big hearts, played awful hard. They played with a lot of toughness.”\nMike White’s 11 points – all of which came in the last eight minutes of the game – marked a career-high for the junior college transfer, who also grabbed four rebounds in 15 minutes of action. Sampson said after the game that Mike White and freshman forward Xavier Keeling, who came off the bench and played 12 minutes, both filled in well, but just couldn’t match up with the frontcourt size of the Wolverines.\n“Our biggest problem against a team like Michigan is their length. We’re just not very long,” Sampson said. “(Sophomore forward) Ben (Allen) got in foul trouble, D.J. got in foul trouble. Then you’re left with two 6-foot-5 guys in the post in Xavier and Mike. I thought they were battling down there.”\nOutside of the Hoosiers’ struggles in the frontcourt, Suhr got the start in the backcourt in place of injured senior point guard Earl Calloway. Calloway sustained a slightly separated shoulder last Thursday night against Purdue. Suhr made the most of his starting nod, dishing out four assists and nailing 2-of-3 3-pointers in the contest. Michigan coach Tommy Amaker said after the game that he noticed a difference at the point guard position for the Hoosiers with Calloway out, but was impressed with Suhr’s performance.\n“It’s no question they’re different (without Calloway). I say that with all due respect to Errek Suhr, who I thought played a tremendous game against us,” Amaker said. “He’s a tough player and made some big plays to start second half. … But certainly Calloway is very tough with the ball; he can penetrate. I think they probably have much better rhythm having him on the floor.”\nThe effort from both Suhr and Mike White kept the Hoosiers close late in the game. Michigan expanded its lead to 10 at the start of the second half after senior guard Dion Harris nailed a 3-pointer. But Suhr responded with five quick points of his own. The senior guard first drove the baseline and muscled in a layup over two Wolverine defenders. He then nailed a 3-pointer as he was sent to the ground and fouled by Michigan’s Jerret Smith.\nThen it was Mike White’s turn to take over. The junior forward, in only his second start of the season, hit 4-of-6 shots from the field, most of which came down the final stretch of the game. With about five minutes remaining, he gave the Hoosiers their first lead of the contest at 47-46 after sinking two free throws. Then, with just 20 seconds left, Mike White’s layup cut the Michigan lead to one. \nIn the end though, both players remained unsatisfied because of the loss. \n“I felt all right,” Suhr said of starting. “I would have felt a lot better if we won.”