INDIANAPOLIS — Zak Irvin came home to help Michigan reach the NCAA tournament.
The Wolverines needed to stay in Indianapolis for more than a day to do so — or at least have a chance to do so.
Irvin, a native of Fishers, Indiana, made sure Michigan will at least have that chance. The junior knocked down a crucial pull-up jumper with 3 seconds remaining in overtime on Thursday to hand eighth-seeded Michigan (21-11) a had-to-have it 72-70 win over ninth-seeded Northwestern in the Big Ten tournament.
The sigh of relief swept through Bankers Life Fieldhouse, where Michigan will return for another day.