Michigan notes, quotes from loss at Illinois

AT ASSEMBLY HALL, CHAMPAIGN, ILL.

WHAT HAPPENED: The Wolverines started the game on fire, hitting their first five shots, but they went ice-cold after that, hitting only four of the next 25. They trailed, 32-22, at halftime, their fewest points in a half since the Jan. 15 game against Indiana.

Much of the problem was the terrible outside shooting. Yet they started scoring early in the second half by getting the ball low to Jordan Morgan -- at least until he went to the bench in foul trouble.

Then the rest of the Wolverines began pitching in, closing within a point with 15 seconds left. But they couldn't finish, missing a pair of shots to tie or win the game in the final seconds.

Illinois was led by Demetri McCamey's 18 points. Morgan led U-M with 12.

REASON TO HOPE: Michigan's unique ability to climb back into a game, no matter the adversity or deficit, has become the hallmark of the young team.

REASONS TO MOPE: The Wolverines struggled all night from three-point range -- their first made three wasn't until 2:13 left in the second half -- and they finished 2-for-18.

STAT OF THE GAME: Michigan shot just 30% in the first half, the primary culprit for the 32-22 halftime hole, which forced another U-M comeback from double digits.

PLAYING WOUNDED: Stu Douglass played much of the game with a gauze pad in his nose to stop bleeding. It may have affected him on the court as he missed his first four three-pointers and finished the half 1-for-6. His offensive game didn't progress much, but he was the primary ball-handler with Darius Morris on the bench.

SIDE TRIP: The Indianapolis Star reported that U-M coach John Beilein attended an Indianapolis-area high school game Tuesday night between Indianapolis Pike and Fishers Hamilton Southeastern, which featured a number of Division I prospects.

UP NEXT: Michigan travels to Iowa for a 4:30 p.m. game Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Contact MARK SNYDER: msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @freepwolverines.