Michigan advances to final of NIT

NEW YORK - After easily slicing apart three lesser teams, No. 4 Michigan stumbled out of the gate in its first test of the season before finishing strong.

Trey Burke scored 17 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. added 16 and Michigan shut down Pittsburgh after a switch in defensive tactics in the second half to reach the championship game of the NIT Season Tipoff with a 67-62 victory Wednesday.

"This is big-man basketball right now," Michigan coach John Beilein said. "We haven't had that type of good defense on us yet."

Pittsburgh's Tray Woodall made a 3-pointer with 30 seconds left to make it a one-possession game, and Pittsburgh (4-1) pressed after a timeout. But Michigan (4-0) made eight straight free throws to close out the game.

"The coaches do a good job of putting us in those scenarios," Burke said. "When it comes to game time we just tell each other to win the game, shoot with confidence."

James Robinson made a layup and was fouled with 3.5 seconds left for Pitt, but he missed the free throw and Michigan had the possession arrow for a jump ball that followed on the rebound. Pittsburgh fouled on the inbounds pass, and Burke made the free throws while Michigan's fans chanted "Beat Ohio!" - looking ahead to Saturday's football game against archrival Ohio State.

Michigan will play Kansas State (5-0) for the title Friday. The Wildcats beat Delaware, 66-63.

Lamar Patterson led the Panthers with 14 points. It was a disappointing finish for a well-balanced Pittsburgh team that is expected to have an outside shot at contending in the deep Big East Conference - and looked set to score a big nonconference win early.

The Panthers led by eight in the first half and six in the second, but Michigan began to use its 1-3-1 defense to limit their field goals.

Before closing with several layups that Michigan seemed willing to concede due to the game situation, the Panthers shot 5-for-20 from the floor, mostly against the zone.