NEW YORK -- Michigan was about to take the Madison Square Garden court for the first time in the Big Ten Tournament. The Wolverines were heavy favorites over Iowa, but John Beilein wanted to give his team a little extra motivation.

"Guys, Moe's mother came all the way from Germany," he said he told them. "We can't be going home in one day."

Beilein was referring to Moritz Wagner's mom, Beate Wagner (pronounced be-AH-ta vog-ner), who had traveled to New York from her home in Berlin, Germany. Beilein believes the rest of the Wolverines took the message to heart.

They topped Iowa in overtime on Thursday and smacked Nebraska on Friday. Saturday, Michigan beat No. 1 seed Michigan State to get to the Tournament's championship game, extending its Big Apple trip the maximum amount of time.

"I tell you, they love that kid, and I think that put a little something into them," Beilein said after Saturday's 75-64 win.

Wagner, Michigan's 6-foot-11 center, scored 14 points in the second half to lead Michigan to victory. Last week he talked to MLive about his parents, saying his mom, a freelance medical journalist, watches Michigan's games live despite living in a time zone that is six hours ahead of Ann Arbor.

His dad, Axel Schulz, is just as invested. "When you write an article, you can be sure he's the first one to read it," Wagner said. But Axel has to wake up early for work and therefore checks the box score as soon as he wakes up -- that is, if he ever falls asleep. Knowing his son is playing makes that hard, according to Wagner.

Wagner said his mom would be combining the trip to New York with a visit to Ann Arbor. Michigan will have a week without games before the NCAA Tournament field is announced on March 11.

"She's a wonderful lady," Beilein said. "Moe looks just like her. They're both very handsome."

Wagner has one sibling, a 16-year-old brother, Franz. He's 6-foot-6 (and apparently still growing) and playing for the same junior national team in Berlin that his older brother once played for. A scouting report on DraftExpress.com highlights his guard skills and ability to shoot the 3.

It's too soon to speculate whether another Wagner will eventually end in up Ann Arbor. For now, Beilein is ecstatic he has one -- a player to whom he can be brutally honest. Wagner, who was 0-for-7 in the first half against Michigan State, was the last Wolverine to leave the locker room at halftime.

"Moe, you're stinking the place up," Beilein said he told him. "Can you make a shot in the second half?"

Wagner smiled, then delivered on the court. His personal 6-0 run early in the second half gave Michigan a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

"He's got an incredible personality," Beilein said. I think I have a bond with that young man. I've coached a lot of kids. He would go in that special category of those kids you love coaching no matter what."