The Michigan men's basketball team's overtime win against Savannah State on Saturday included two plays Wolverine fans will remember for the rest of the season.

With the score tied at 56 and three seconds remaining in regulation, freshman guard Zack Novak stole a pass near midcourt, drove to the hoop and missed what could have been a game-winning dunk.

For those in attendance, the sight of the ball sailing through the air after clanking off the rim as time expired was rare.

“I just looked up, and I was like, ‘What went wrong?’” Novak said. “I think (my teammates) kind of got a kick out of it. They probably wanted to kick me at the same time.”

But fifth-year senior co-captain David Merritt had a different perspective.

“I told him that I felt he was going to hit a big three,” Merritt said. “I just wanted to give him some encouragement. That’s a tough play, especially for a freshman. He’s going to remember that for the rest of his life.”

Merritt's encouragement worked.

Minutes later, Merritt's prediction came true when Novak hit a key 3-pointer with just 1:39 left in overtime.

“(We) called timeout,” Novak said. “Coach asked me where you want to hit a three from. I told him, came out (and) got it done. I think they’re proud of me for doing that.”

Buzzer beater: At the end of overtime, junior forward DeShawn Sims found himself open on the right wing with seconds remaining. With the score tied, Sims launched a jumper that hit the bottom of the net to give Michigan its fifth win of the season.

And he did it with ease.

“I just shot it regularly,” Sims said. “(I) didn’t force it, just shot it comfortable. Perfect jump shot and it went in.”

Sims’s shot did more than just beat Savannah State. It punctuated a 20-point comeback, prevented a potential loss to a program that won just 10 games from 2001-06 and saved the Wolverines from taking a step in the wrong direction.

“I think it really helps our mentality,” Merritt said. “Losing wasn’t an option for us.”

His game-winner also made it a easier for Novak to move on.

“I owe Peedi a lot,” Novak said.

Words of wisdom: With his team down 20 points at the half, Michigan coach John Beilein could have ripped apart his players in the locker room.

But instead of focusing on the first half, Beilein told his team that they were going to win, Merritt recalled.

“We were clearly rattled at halftime,” Beilein said through the Athletic Department. “We didn't need a coach that was going to go in there and rattle them some more."