They're partying in Ann Arbor tonight after the Michigan Wolverines upset #12 Michigan State, 72-67.

After falling behind by double-digits early to a hot-shooting, run-and-gun Spartan squad, the senior-laden Wolverines slowly closed the gap by playing suffocating defense, dictating the tempo, and hitting one big shot after another, both from the field as well as the free throw line.

Michigan outscored Michigan State 27-6 from the foul line and that, along with inspired play from seniors Daniel Horton (23 pts.) and Chris Hunter (13 pts. and 3 blocks - all in the second half), was the difference in the Wolverines first victory in the intrastate rivalry in two years.

Going into the game, Michigan players and coaches felt that this game was their chance to make a statement that the gap between the two programs was finally closing.  It was also their opportunity to show the rest of the ultra competitive Big Ten that the Spartans weren't the only team in the state of Michigan entrenched in the race for the conference championship. 

However, in the first 10 minutes of the game, the statement seemed more like a whimper as MSU nearly ran the Wolverines right out of the gym.

Michigan State built a 28-15 first half lead by getting open looks in transition, both in the paint and behind the arc.  But Michigan regrouped and closed the half with a 17-11 mini-spurt that kept them within striking distance (39-32) heading into the locker room.

In the second half, Michigan slowed down the pace and began to frustrate the Spartans in their half-court sets. They were also able to get Michigan State's slick-shooting center Paul Davis into foul trouble, making it difficult for Davis to be any kind of factor at either end of the floor.

Michigan took their first lead since the opening minute of the game midway through the second half when Chris Hunter hit a 3-pointer from the corner.  From there, they never looked back.  Their relentless defensive pressure and aggressiveness forced the Spartans into several forced shots and turnovers. 

Meanwhile, at the offensive end, Horton's dribble penetration provided for a number of easy baskets by Hunter and Graham Brown.  And when the Wolverines weren't scoring from the field, they were getting to the foul line and converting.

Michigan built their lead to eight, 64-56, before the Spartans made a run to cut it to two in the final minute.  With Michigan leading 69-67, Chris Hunter found himself at the line with a chance to make it a two-possession game with 30 seconds to play.  Hunter split the pair though, and MSU had a chance to tie the game with a 3-point basket.

Head Coach Tom Izzo called a timeout with 7.4 seconds left, and right before Maurice Ager drilled what would've been a game-tying trey from the left wing.  Coming out of the timeout, Ager was called upon once again.  This time, however, he misfired from the top of the key and Dion Harris secured the rebound, and eventually the victory after draining a pair of free throws with 1.3 to go.

Fans stormed the Crysler Arena floor in jubilation as the Wolverines defeated the Spartans for only the second time in the last 14 meetings.  Perhaps even more impressive was that they did it without junior swingman Lester Abram, Michigan's best perimeter defender and arguably their best all-around player.  Abram sprained his left ankle in a win at Minnesota on Saturday.

The win for Michigan will go a long way in re-asserting their participation in the rivalry.  But more importantly, it will go even further in solidifying their standing as a legitimate NCAA Tournament team. 

Prior to tonight, Michigan had failed in their three previous attempts to knock off a top 25 team.  They lost close games to UCLA, Indiana and Illinois and despite a 13-3 record, many felt Michigan had yet to prove themselves as a sure-bet tournament team.  But tonight's victory over 12th ranked Michigan State should erase all doubt.

The Wolverines shouldn't celebrate too long though.  They have another test this weekend as another Big Ten front-runner, Wisconsin, comes into Crysler Arena with a chip on their shoulders after an embarrassing home loss to lowly North Dakota State last Saturday.  They've already begun to remove that awful taste out of their mouths after a 72-43 drubbing of Penn State.  And you can bet that Bo Ryan will have the Badgers ready to play this Saturday so Michigan cannot afford a letdown.