Michigan's Manny Harris, right, drives to the basket against Northwestern's Sterling Williams during the first half of a basketball game Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008 in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Manny Harris scored 22 points and Michigan built a huge lead before hanging on to beat Northwestern 78-68 Saturday night as the Wolverines ended a five-game losing streak and gave coach John Beilein his first Big Ten victory.

Ekpe Udoh added 14 points and 11 rebounds and DeShawn Sims scored 12 for the Wolverines (5-11, 1-3), who used a late first-half surge to build a 43-22 halftime lead before building the cushion to 30 early in the second.

Northwestern (5-8, 0-4) got a career-high 34-point effort on 14-for-18 shooting from Kevin Coble, playing just his fourth game this season. The Wildcats made a game of it with an 18-0 second-half run that came too late.

Michigan senior forward Ron Coleman missed a game for the first time in his career after injuring his right ankle in the Wolverines' loss to Indiana four days ago. Coleman had played in 114 straight games, including 76 starts.

But on Saturday night the Wolverines didn't need him. They beat Northwestern handily on the boards, 45-25.

Michigan went on a 22-5 spurt over the final six minutes of the first half for a commanding 43-22 lead.

Beilein is in his first season with Michigan after leaving West Virginia.