This weekend, the Michigan basketball team proved there is more than one way to win. After downing teams such as UCLA and Wisconsin with superior 3-point shooting, the Wolverines could not find their shot against Penn State.

Michigan (2-0 Big Ten, 9-6 overall) connected on just one trey against the Nittany Lions (0-2, 5-8) but it was a big one. Senior LaVell Blanchard's triple in the waning minutes of the game secured the Wolverines' 66-53 victory, extending the team's winning streak to nine.

"I thought LaVell Blanchard's three - and I didn't realize it was the only three that we made - was just a huge shot," Michigan coach Tommy Amaker said. "He certainly got a lot of arc on that ball. I've never seen him shoot it that high before, but it came down the right way."

Blanchard's rainbow was set up by the penetration of freshman Daniel Horton. Horton knifed through the Penn State defense and kicked the ball out to Blanchard, who launched the three with just over two minutes to go to put the Wolverines up 61-49. Blanchard's triple put the game out of reach of the Lions, who were mounting a late-game comeback.

"The three-point shot has been a big part of our offense and we weren't hitting them (Saturday)," junior Bernard Robinson said. "But we did hit one when Penn State was fighting back. (Blanchard) hit that one shot and it really sparked us."

One of the things that helped Michigan in the game was its ability to get to the free throw line. Michigan reached the foul line 37 times in the game, including 30 trips in the second half alone, while Penn State attempted just eight foul shots the entire game. The charity stripe turned out to be not so giving to the Wolverines who connected on just 25 of their 37 attempts.

"We need to do a better job at the free-throw line," Amaker said. "Certainly, with their offensive rebounds and our ability to get to the line, which was tremendous, but we did not convert at the normal rate that we have been in the past."

The ability to score from the foul line allowed the Wolverines to stay ahead, even though they went 10 minutes without a basket in the second half. It looked liked Penn State was applying the Hack-a-Shaq technique to the entire Michigan team after halftime as it committed 23 fouls in the second half.

The result of all the whistles was that many Lions found themselves in foul trouble, including Jan Jagla. The 7-foot center looked like he would be able to dominate inside, because of Michigan's inexperience and depth problems down low. But he was almost a non-factor in the game due to foul trouble. Jagla, who averages 10 points per game, finished with just two points and collected four fouls in just 15 minutes of play.

When Jagla was forced to sit, Michigan's freshmen big men, Graham Brown and Chris Hunter, were able to be more productive on the inside. Hunter finished with 10 points, seven boards and two blocks, but he credits Brown's defense for removing Jagla.

"I think Brown did an excellent job of posting him up and getting some quick fouls on him, and that took him out his game early," Hunter said.