Maybe it was the transition from guard to forward.

Maybe it was the high expectations after a stellar freshman season.

Or maybe it was just a Division-II team that lacked the defense to shut him down.

Whatever the reason, sophomore Manny (fresh) Harris scored a career-high 30 points leading the Michigan men’s basketball team to a 77-55 win over Michigan Tech in the first round of the 2K Sports Classic tonight.

“I just try to find openings,” said Harris, who also had seven rebounds. “If they play me too close and there’s not a shot, then I can drive. If they play me baseline, then I drive, try to look to kick. But if there’s no one to help, I score.”

Harris used his slashing ability and tore apart the Huskies’ defense. He went 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, his few jump shots of the night. The rest of his points came on layups.

Harris’s offensive outburst is a sign that Michigan (1-0) can rely on his scoring ability to pick up where it left off at the end of last season, when Harris averaged a team-high 16.1 points per game.

“He is still looking for his avenues,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. “ ‘When can I use this speed and quickness? How can I make my game so efficient that I’m harder to guard?’ … You might be more effective if you do less.”

Harris had good court vision — he turned the ball over just twice in 30 minutes — but it was part of a balanced Wolverine attack.

Michigan came out more aggressive in the first half than last Thursday’s exhibition against Saginaw Valley State. Any early-season jitters were less noticeable, and Michigan capitalized with quick passing and movement away from the ball. Despite an 11-3 Husky run to start the second half, Michigan was in control for most of the game.

Beilein used the same starting lineup as in last Thursday’s exhibition, which had redshirt sophomore forward Anthony Wright starting over junior DeShawn Sims and fifth-year senior guard David Merritt over sophomore Kelvin Grady. Wright hit back-to-back 3-pointers to start the game and set the pace for the offense.

“If he comes off, we need to be able to spread the floor with him and (junior center) Zack (Gibson),” Beilein said of Wright. “For him to come out and do that, that was a great start for us on the opening night. It usually shows that he has a great deal of confidence.”

Beilein said Monday that he wanted to see his team run the floor more. Grady came off the bench and played 17 minutes, using his speed to convert Michigan Tech turnovers into fast-break points. The Wolverines had 18 points off turnovers.

“Hopefully that will be a thing where we’ll be able to score a few more points pushing the ball in transition,” Beilein said. “But you’ve got to stop people to do it.”

Beilein emptied his bench in the game’s final minutes, and 10 players scored in the win. But freshman shooting guard Stu Douglass, who went 3-for-5 on 3-pointers last Thursday, was held scoreless.

The Wolverines may have shot 51.9 percent, but against an undersized Michigan Tech team (0-1) that had one player taller than 6-foot-7, they did not take control of the boards. Beilein’s system does not emphasize rebounding, but Michigan outrebounded the Huskies, a slim 37-32.

Sims finished with a game-high 12 boards, four higher than the next player.

The Wolverines will play tomorrow night in the regional final against Northeastern at 8 p.m at Crisler Arena. The winner will advance to the championship rounds in New York at Madison Square Garden from Nov. 20-21.