Like a determined heavyweight in the boxing ring, Colorado College kept delivering counter punches on Thursday.

But, after battling from behind to take the lead early in the third period, the Tigers fell victim to an unlucky bounce that resulted in a 6-5 loss to the University of Michigan in the championship game of the 46th annual Great Lakes Invitational.

Michigan's A.J. Treais scored off the skate of CC defenseman Eamonn McDermott with a centering attempt from deep near the right corner boards, snapping a 5-5 tie at 15:56 of the third period and lifting the Wolverines to their come-from-behind triumph.

Colorado College battled back from deficits of 2-0, 3-2 and 4-3 to grab a 5-4 lead early in the final frame on tallies just 55 seconds apart by Stephen Schultz and Tyler Johnson, only to see its chances for a second GLI title slip away in the game's final six minutes at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena.

Schultz, who scored twice in the loss and finished the two-day invitational with three goals and a pair of assists, joined junior defenseman Gabe Guentzel on the all-tournament team.

McDermott and Nick Dineen also scored for the Tigers, who dropped to 12-9-1 overall for the season. 

It was the 97th all-time encounter between the nationally ranked teams, which have met in the NCAA playoffs on seven occasions.

Four of CC's goals came on the power play. Michigan's only PPG, by defenseman Lee Moffie, knotted the contest for the final time at the 14-minute mark of the third period. 

Sophomore goalie Joe Howe finished with 33 saves. 

The Wolverines grabbed their early 2-0 lead on tallies by Ben Winnett just 39 seconds into the game and by Luke Glendening at 10:43.

But, just 34 seconds after Glendening converted on rebound following Howe's save on a shorthanded breakaway by UM's Carl Hagelin, the Tigers struck back to seize some momentum of their own.

McDermott used a screen in front to beat UM netminder Shawn Hunwick with a low wrist shot to make it 2-1 at 11:17. Then, with Colorado College holding a 5-on-3 manpower advantage at 14:53, Schultz got free in the high slot and blasted a one-timer off Rylan Schwartz's feed past Hunwick to pull CC even for the first time.