SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Michigan coach John Beilein predicted prior to arriving at the Puerto Rico
Tip-Off that the four-day tournament would reveal a lot about his team’s talent level.Through one game, for
the most part he likes what he sees.The 14th-ranked Wolverines knocked down a tournament-record 14
3-pointers and held off a late rally Thursday in an 85-61 victory over Long Beach State.Nik Stauskas scored
24 points and Caris LeVert had 20 to help Michigan beat the scrappy 49ers.“We feel he’s got going in the
last couple of games,” Beilein said of Stauskas, who came in averaging a team-high 17 points. “What I like
is he’s finding open people. I don’t think he forced a shot today. … I like the way he’s guarding, the way
he’s rebounding. A lot of things.”The 49ers came out in a triangle-and-two defensive set and also mixed in
some zone to try to keep the Wolverines guessing early.But Stauskas credited his team’s ball movement in the
halfcourt for allowing him to get open looks.“Guys were doing a really good job of getting into the lane,
finding me open,” he said. “Anytime I get open shots, I hope I can knock them down.”Michigan (3-1) led by 18
in the first half before it was trimmed to nine with less than 10 minutes to play.But the Wolverines were
able to hold on thanks to a steady string of shots from long range. Stauskas and LeVert hit four 3s apiece.
Glenn Robinson III had 14 points.Michigan faces Florida State tonight in the semifinals.A.J. Spencer and
Mike Caffey each had 12 points to lead Long Beach State (1-4), which lost its fourth straight game.Long
Beach State coach Dan Monson said his team had opportunities and played good enough to win in spurts, but
couldn’t get enough misses from Michigan to get over the hump.“Just so many weapons offensively. We didn’t
have an answer to slow them down on that end of the floor,” he said.The Wolverines connected on 14 of 30
attempts from beyond the arc and forced 16 turnovers in their second game since the return of forward Mitch
McGary from a back injury. He didn’t start, and played sparingly in finishing with six points.Beilein said
the plan was to use McGary only when necessary, but the coach said he is pleased with the contributions he
has received so far from other frontcourt players.“The guys that got those minutes have great endurance,”
Beilein said. “So I think they’ll be fine.”Michigan got a big chunk of its turnovers on deflections in the
paint to trigger fast-break opportunities.Thanks to a big first half they didn’t really need much from
McGary, though.Michigan took a 42-29 lead into the locker room at halftime, but had a much bigger cushion at
one point.The Wolverines breezed through the first part of the opening half, knocking down eight 3-pointers
to put the 49ers in an 18-point hole.Long Beach State responded and used a 15-4 spurt to get it down to
seven.Stauskas helped settle things down for Michigan with his own mini-run to end the half, scoring six
straight points.As productive as his team might have looked Thursday, Beilein said it can still play better
with more work.“We’re growing in our versatility every day, but’s it’s nowhere near where we hope it will be
going down the stretch,” he said.