Hardaway’s son emerges as Michigan’s Garden hero

Tim Hardaway Jr.’s dad never heard cheers at the Garden like this.

The son of the former star NBA guard, a villain in these parts during the ultraintense Knicks Heat rivalry of the late 1990s, came alive in the second half as No. 4ranked Michigan rallied past Pittsburgh, 6762, in the Preseason NIT semifinals.

“I heard some boos when my name was [first announced],” Hardaway Jr. said with a smile. “It was good to have an opportunity to play in Madison Square Garden. It was a blessing.”

The Wolverines (40) will meet Kansas State, a 6663 winner over Delaware, in tomorrow’s championship game at 4:30 p.m.

In a gamechanging 206 run, Hardaway scored 11 of his 16 points as the proMichigan crowd exploded, turning a fivepoint deficit into a ninepoint lead late in the second half. He sank deep jump shots and got inside for easy baskets, shaking off a slow start.

“He’s worked so hard on being more than just a shooter,” Michigan coach John Beilein said.

Glenn Robinson III, another one of Michigan’s famous NBA sons, also was pivotal in the stretch with seven points and finished with 13 points. T

The Wolverines’ defense, however, keyed the comeback as Michigan completely bottled up Pitt (41) in the second half. The Panthers got within three with 30.6 seconds left, but Robinson, Nik Stauskas and Burke iced it by going 8for8 from the freethrow line.

“We live for moments like this as basketball players, on a big stage like this against a good team like Pitt,” Stauskas said.

In the opener, Will Spradling (12 points, seven assists) sank four clutch free throws in the final 24 seconds for Kansas State (50). Devon Saddler led Delaware (22) with 32 points.