Michigan basketball lost to Lithuania, 96-84, on Sunday, Aug. 23, in the first of its three international games on its 10-day Europe trip. Here are four takeaways from Michigan writer Tony Garcia.
Moustapha Thiam injured, Ricky Liburd doesn't suit up
Coach Mike Boynton Jr. said the Wolverines would be down LSU transfer Jalen Reed (Achilles) and freshman Lincoln Cosby (ACL), but those weren't the only players who missed time. Sophomore Ricky Liburd was not listed as an active player for the Wolverines, which was surprising given there had been no mention of any injury.
Perhaps even more concerning, center Moustapha Thiam left with three minutes to play in the first quarter and did not return after point guard Elliot
Cadeau appeared to roll up on his lower right leg while going for an offensive rebound. Thiam stayed down on the court for a few moments before he was helped off by Boynton and trainer Chris Williams.
Prior to that, however, he looked like a major factor. Early on, he caught a pocket pass from Cadeau and finished it off for a slam. Later, he got an offensive rebound off a missed 3-pointer and made a midrange putback to extend U-M's early lead. Lastly, Thiam drove to the hoop on a pick and roll with Cadeau and he threw down a dunk that only he could get his hands on.
Thiam finished with six points, two rebounds and two assists in 5:54 of action.
Foul trouble slows McKenney, Cadeau
Michigan's backcourt started the game in control, but both starting guards found themselves in trouble early with three fouls in the first half. Cadeau then picked up his fourth with more than seven minutes to play in the third quarter and had to sit the rest of the period. Moments later, McKenney picked up his fourth.
A 62-51 lead turned into a 75-71 deficit over the final 7:29 of the third quarter without Cadeau. When he returned in the fourth, the backcourt duo did what they could to will a comeback. Cadeau found freshman Quinn Costello for a 3 to stop the bleeding before a McKenney 3 and then a pair of free throws to pull within two.
Things unraveled from there. Lithuania scored seven straight, then Cadeau and McKenney fouled out in 30 seconds, which sparked a game-sealing 15-0 run for the home team. Lithuania finished the contest on a 48-22 burst.
McKenney scored 15 (while going 3-for-6 on 3-pointers) while Cadeau had seven points, seven assists and three rebounds.
The whistle seemed to be a bit tighter than in Big Ten competition but it gave invaluable experience to the younger players. It's also another example of why Michigan hopes Kenny Noland (a Columbia transfer who committed to U-M last week) will actually be able to join the team, pending more court rulings on the NCAA's new eligibility rules.
Fresh(man) thoughts
U-M's biggest highlight came from the freshmen vs. Lithuania.
Brandon McCoy was the only first-year player who started, but Quinn Costello, Joseph Hartmann and Marcus Moller all played significant roles. The quartet shot 61.1% (11-for-18) from the field in the first half and helped U-M get out to a 62-48 lead early in the third quarter. Each had standout moments.
McCoy had multiple aggressive takes through traffic, including an acrobatic finish on a three-point play, two breakaway dunks and a corner 3 from the left wing as he finished with 14 points. Costello, meanwhile, showed why he too was a McDonald's All-American, with one of the smoothest strokes in the 2026 class.
He drilled five of 10 3-point tries and finished with 17 points.
Moller, the 7-foot-3 Danish prospect who has returned to the court after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer last winter, did a bit of everything. He made a midrange jumper off glass, drilled a 3 from straight away and had a steal as part of a 9-0 run in the second quarter that put U-M up 42-33.
Hartmann was likewise sharp from everywhere. He hit a deep 3 early on, assisted on consecutive buckets in the third quarter to put U-M up 67-57, then threw down a dunk on a backdoor baseline cut as U-M tried to hold its lead.
Michigan finished with 27 turnovers, 12 from freshmen and a combined 10 from McKenney and Cadeau.
Roddy Gayle Jr. makes the trip
Roddy Gayle Jr. standing right behind the U-M huddle as it takes on Lithuania. A program spokesman confirmed he traveled to Europe with the program but there’s no update on his status as far as returning to the team. pic.twitter.com/sTte6QiF24
— Tony Garcia | Detroit Free Press (@RealTonyGarcia) August 23, 2026
Roddy Gayle Jr. has been rumored to be returning to the Wolverines, and he stood in the huddle with the Wolverines on Sunday afternoon. A team spokesman told the Free Press that Gayle traveled with the program to Europe but there is no change in his status and he is not part of the team at this point.
It's unclear if he or Noland will be able to play for the Wolverines this upcoming season, after a federal court issued a stay on extending an extra year of eligibility to the class of 2022.. Players in states in which the courts have issued an extra year, to match the NCAA's upcoming rule of five years of eligibility in five years after high school, are eligible to play, but there is no equivalent ruling nationally, nor has there been a ruling in Michigan allowed an extra year.
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball vs Lithuania: Moustapha Thiam injured
