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No. 22 Michigan defeats Cornhuskers 62-46

Michigan's Trey Burke (3) drives past Nebraska's Bo Spencer (23) in the first half of their NCAA college basketball game in Lincoln, Neb., Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Michigan's Jordan Morgan, left, and Nebraska's Mike Fox (33) compete for a rebound in the first half of their NCAA college basketball game in Lincoln, Neb., Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Michigan's Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) shoots against Nebraska's Brandon Richardson, rear, and Caleb Walker (25) in the first half of their NCAA college basketball game in Lincoln, Neb., Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

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By ERIC OLSON, The Associated Press Updated 10:46 PM Wednesday, February 8, 2012

LINCOLN, Neb. — Zack Novak scored 14 points to go over 1,000 for his career and No. 22 Michigan defeated Nebraska 62-46 on Wednesday night.

The Wolverines (18-7, 8-4) outscored Nebraska 15-4 to start the second half and went on to only their second win in six Big Ten road games. The Cornhuskers (11-12, 3-9) lost their third straight.

Stu Douglass had 13 points and Trey Burke 12 for Michigan. Bo Spencer scored 13 to lead Nebraska.

Michigan, playing on the road for the fifth time in six games, had no trouble against a downtrodden team that's one game out of last place in its first season in the Big Ten.

The Wolverines, who came in shooting 43 percent in Big Ten road games, finished at 52 percent after making 32 percent in the first half. Despite the poor shooting, Michigan led 22-15 — the Huskers' season low for points in a half.

The teams hadn't met since 1992, and it was Michigan's first visit to Lincoln since the Huskers beat the then-No. 1 Wolverines in December 1964.

Nebraska wasn't going to pull an upset this night. The Huskers were without center Jorge Brian Diaz for the second straight game. He has chronic soreness in his feet, and coach Doc Sadler said he probably is done for the season.

The Huskers didn't break the 20-point barrier until 12 minutes remained and didn't go over 40 points until the final minute.

They missed 11 3-pointers in a row before Bo Spencer made the Huskers' first one with 12:22 left in the game.

Michigan's Tim Hardaway Jr. saw a continuation of his shooting slump. He missed his first seven attempts, including one from point-blank range and a layup through traffic. He broke through early in the second half with a finger roll that put the Wolverines up 30-17.

Hardaway, who had a season-low four points in Sunday's 64-54 loss at Michigan State, was 3 of 11 for six points and is 13 for his last 47 (27.6 percent) in four games.

Toney McCray fired up an air ball from the corner to start Nebraska's stretch of 1-for-13 shooting to start the game. The Huskers' second field goal didn't come until 9:12 before half.

The Huskers, thanks to Michigan's shooting woes, had a chance to take the lead after pulling to 16-15. But Brandon Ubel missed an easy dunk when Spencer gave him a perfect alley-oop pass.

It was that kind of night for a Nebraska team that, with an 8-7 home record, has its most losses in Lincoln since the 1962-63 team dropped nine at home.

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February 09, 2012 03:40 AM EST

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