SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Michigan coach John Beilein flew to San Juan this week not knowing exactly
what to expect from his team after some early-season ups and downs.After a last-second, 63-61 loss to
Charlotte in the championship game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Sunday, Beilein leaves with a team that’s a
little more battered than when it arrived. But with a little work, he said he’s confident about what it
could be down the road.The No. 14 Wolverines tied the game on a layup by Mitch McGary with 9 seconds left,
but gave up a put back on the other end by Terrence Williams with 0.4 seconds left.“Another March game
played in November,” Beilein said. “Charlotte was really good. … We’re embracing this and saying, ‘What a
great opportunity to grow.’ We had adversity tonight like we hadn’t had, and we just kept plugging
away.“It’s all good,” he said. “I know that sounds crazy, but it’s all good to come into that environment,
play as hard as we did and fight back to have a chance to win.”Denzel Ingram had 12 points and Willie
Clayton added 10 points and 15 rebounds to lead the 49ers. Pierria Henry chipped in 11 points. Charlotte’s
Shawn Lester was named to the all-tournament team.The title was the 49ers (5-1) second early-season
tournament win in two seasons. Charlotte won the Great Alaska Shootout last season.Nik Stauskas, who was
named the tournament’s most valuable player, finished with 20 points to lead Michigan (4-2). Caris LeVert
added 11 points.Michigan overcame a 16-point deficit in Friday’s semifinal against Florida State to win
overtime. On Sunday it stayed in the game despite shooting just 31 percent for the game.The Wolverines also
played most of the night without starting forward Glenn Robinson III, who logged only 9 minutes as he
struggled with what appeared to be back issues, Beilein said.The one player that was able to keep to keep up
the scoring load was Michigan’s Nik Stauskas, who was named the tournament’s most valuable player. He
finished with 20 points, but played through an ankle injury over the final 9 minutes. Caris LeVert added 11
points.“The injury was tough, especially defensively, because they noticed it real quick and whoever I was
guarding just started running around a bunch of screens,” Stauskas said. “It was definitely difficult just
to move around and put pressure on them. I was kind of limited.”Charlotte held about a six-point cushion for
most of the second half until Michigan took its first lead of the half — 47-46 — on a pair of free throws by
LeVert with 6:12 remaining in the game.But McGary, playing in his fourth game back from a back injury, was
forced to the bench with his fourth foul at the 5:26 mark. The 49ers attacked, and immediately went on an
8-2 run to take it back the advantage at 54-49.McGary returned with the clock under three minutes, and cut
the 49ers’ lead to 58-55.Then, after another Charlotte basket Michigan cut it to 60-58 on a 3-pointer by Zak
Irvin.Michigan fouled, and Williams hit 1 of 2 free throws.The Wolverines came up empty on the next
possession, but after a foul this time Williams missed the front end of a 1-and-1.Spike Albrecht was fouled
in a scramble on Michigan’s next trip down the floor and hit the first of his free throws to make it 61-59.
He missed the second, but a scramble for the rebound ended up in a jump ball and the possession arrow
favored Michigan with 11.4 seconds left.McGary got free on the inbounds pass for a layup, but Charlotte
quickly pushed the ball up the floor to set up the final sequence.Charlotte led 35-30 at halftime, never
able to go up by more than eight points despite Michigan shooting just 23 percent from the field.The scoring
the Wolverines did get came mostly from Stauskas’16 first-half points and their 11-for-13 effort from the
free throw line.The 49ers only had three free throw attempts and were slowed down on the offensive end by 10
turnovers and a 22-18 rebounding deficit.“This was a real opportunity for us,” Beilein said. “We’ve got some
real important games coming up and this is a great opportunity for us to learn that each possession is
important. Each block out is important. Each foul shot is important. It hits you hard.”