ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 28, 1997 TAG: 9703280097
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW YORK
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Robert ``Tractor'' Traylor puts Michigan on his back and carries the team to its second NIT title.
Labeled as enigmatic and underachieving all season, the Michigan Wolverines now have a new tag - NIT champions.
Robert Traylor scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds Thursday night as Michigan won its second NIT title with an 82-73 victory over Florida State.
The Wolverines (23-11) were denied a trip to the NCAAs this year after a five-game losing streak late in the regular season resulted in a sixth-place Big Ten finish.
But given a rebirth in the NIT, the Wolverines showed why they were ranked in the Top 10 to start the year and why they'll be a team to reckon with next March.
``A lot of people have said that this team can't win anything,'' Michigan coach Steve Fisher said. ``Now they can't say that.''
The first basketball game between schools better known for football accomplishments was fittingly dominated by the one player on the floor who resembles a defensive tackle.
Traylor, a 6-foot-8, 300-pound sophomore nicknamed ``Tractor,'' used his size to help Michigan control the boards and thwart a dramatic Florida State comeback in the second half.
Traylor, who had 33 points and 19 rebounds in Michigan's two victories at Madison Square Garden, was named the tournament's MVP.
``It's a great honor when you look at the long list of names,'' Traylor said. ``But if I didn't score a point or get a rebound, it wouldn't matter because we won.''
Maceo Baston added 20 points and Louis Bullock had 17 for Michigan (23-11), which outrebounded Florida State 47-28.
``If they were in the NCAAs, they would have made the Elite Eight at least,'' Florida State coach Pat Kennedy said. ``I don't think I've coached against a team in all my 17 years that has been so physically imposing as they are.''
Florida State (20-12) was led by James Collins' 20 points and LaMarr Greer had 15. The Seminoles rallied from 18 down and closed to 68-66 with 4:46 to go.
``You can build a 20-point lead in a hurry,'' Fisher said, ``and you can lose it in a hurry. And we did.''
Traylor, who said after the game that he plans to come back for his junior year at Michigan, scored on a putback with 3:45 left, giving the Wolverines a four-point lead. On Florida State's next trip, he slapped the ball off guard Kerry Thompson's knee and out of bounds.
Travis Conlan then hit Maurice Taylor with an alley-oop pass for a dunk and a 72-66 Michigan lead. Florida State misfired on its next trip and Bullock scored on a driving layup with 1:37 left, sending Michigan's bench and fans into a frenzy.
``He made some huge plays tonight, no question about that,'' Fisher said of Traylor. ``Robert is a winner with the heart of a champion.''
With Michigan leading by 10 points at the half, Traylor opened the second half with a beautiful spin move and dunk, triggering an 8-0 run that gave Michigan a 49-31 lead with 17:05 left.
The big lead made Michigan passive and careless on the offensive end, and Florida State took advantage.
Greer hit a 3-pointer and the Seminoles ripped off 12 points in a 1:37 stretch to close to 54-49. Following a Michigan turnover, Thompson capped the tear with a dunk with 12:20 remaining and Florida State was right back in it.
Michigan's lead fluctuated between eight and two points during the next eight minutes. Florida State missed a chance to tie it at 68 when Collins missed two free throws with 4:32 to go.
``We made a nice run,'' Kennedy said. ``I was extremely proud of the way our kids fought back. It was a positive final run for all our kids. ... we were exhausted at the end.''
The Wolverines' inside size and strength was evident from the start. Traylor and Baston scored all 10 of Michigan's points in a five-minute span as the Wolverines opened a 22-14 lead.
Bullock's 3-pointer with 4:45 left before halftime swelled Michigan's lead to 13, and Florida State looked to be in big trouble. But the Seminoles kept their cool and only trailed 41-31 at the half following two free throws by Collins with one second left.
After taking his turn in helping his team cut down the nets, Fisher, who has now led the Wolverines to NCAA and NIT titles, spoke with pride about his players.
``We said this was going to be two books. We're closing the book on 1996-97 and we're starting '97-98,'' he said. ``It gives us a jump start on next year and allows us to feel pretty good about ourselves.'' NOTE: please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS. Michigan's Robert Traylor grabs one ofby CNBhis 13 rebounds over Florida State's Kirk Luchman during the first
half. color.