ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Suddenly, Michigan isn't a rebuilding team.

DeShawn Sims scored a career-high 28 points, leading the Wolverines to an 81-73 victory over No. 4 Duke today.

The Wolverines (6-2) beat then-No. 4 UCLA last month before losing 71-56 to the Blue Devils (8-1) in the 2K Sports Classic final.

Duke made just three of 27 3-point attempts before connecting on four in a row to pull within four points in the final minute. Michigan made enough free throws to seal the upset and hundreds of fans from the sold-out crowd rushed the court.

Manny Harris scored 17 points for the Wolverines and reserve freshman Zack Novak had a season-high 14, connecting on consecutive 3-pointers to give them the lead for good with 7› minutes left. Sims, a junior forward, matched a career high with 12 rebounds.

Jon Scheyer scored 16 points for Duke, while Kyle Singler, who was 1-of-9 on 3s, had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Nolan Smith had 12 points and Gerald Henderson added 11 for the Blue Devils.

Duke had won 31 straight games against unranked, nonconference opponents dating to a loss against Georgetown on Jan. 21, 2006.

Michigan's win over the Bruins was its first against a top five team since 1997, and was the team's first victory over a ranked opponent under second-year coach John Beilein.

The Wolverines had lost five straight home games against ranked opponents since beating Indiana 58-55 in 2007.

Before the season, Beilein downplayed expectations by saying the Wolverines were "trying to keep our head above water," after losing a school-record 22 games in his first season.

It will be tough to tone down the excitement, though, with two wins over No. 4 teams and a respectable five-point loss earlier this week at Maryland.

Duke didn't trail for the first 5 minutes of the game, but it was clear the Wolverines belonged on the same court.

Michigan led 32-30 after a first half with eight ties and seven lead changes.

After an 11th lead change and 16th tie, Novak's second straight 3-pointer led to Duke calling a timeout with 7:39 to calm down a crowd that is characteristically quiet in a community consumed by football.

Duke finally started making 3-pointers toward the end of the game, but it was too late.

The Blue Devils hadn't show signs of being susceptible to an upset. They won 76-60 at No. 9 Purdue earlier in the week.