The No. 3 Michigan Wolverines put an exclamation point on the regular season with a 90-80 win over the No. 8 Michigan State Spartans at Crisler Center on Sunday. Dusty May’s team finished the regular season with a program-best 29-2 overall record and 19-1 mark in Big Ten play, including sweeping the rival Spartans for the first time since 2014.
Here’s how it all went down.
First Half
Michigan got off to a slow start, going scoreless for the first three minutes as Michigan State jumped out to a 5-0 lead. Nimari
Burnett drilled a three-pointer to end the scoring drought, which ended up fueling a 10-2 run as the Wolverines seized momentum early on.
Following a media timeout, Michigan took its first lead of the game as Yaxel Lendeborg made a three-pointer of his own. Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr. was then called for a technical foul, which resulted in two free throws by Lendeborg.
Just moments later, Roddy Gayle Jr. slipped into the lane and scored a layup to cap off an 11-0 run and help the Wolverines take a 14-7 lead. Trey McKenney also came off the bench and contributed immediately, grabbing a steal and finishing a layup to go up 18-13.
The Wolverines continued to take control as Lendeborg hit a three-pointer, followed by Gayle scoring a layup to take a 23-14 lead with 9:00 left in the half. Michigan State quickly responded, though, putting together a 13-4 run to tie it at 27-27.
Michigan regained the lead as Morez Johnson Jr. and Lendeborg knocked down back to back three-pointers to go up 33-28. But Michigan State once again answered, going on an 8-0 run to take a 41-37 lead in the final minutes of the first half.
The Wolverines had a response of their own, as Burnett connected on a three-pointer with just 15 seconds left to help Michigan head into the locker room with a 42-41 lead. Lendeborg led the Wolverines with 19 points at halftime.
HALFTIME: MICHIGAN 42, MICHIGAN STATE 41
Second Half
On the opening possession of the second half, Johnson hit a turnaround jumper to extend Michigan’s lead to 44-41. Later in the half, Johnson threw down a powerful dunk to halt Michigan State’s 10-3 run and give Michigan a 53-51 lead.
Both teams traded punches in the following minutes, as Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler knocked down a three-pointer to put the Spartans ahead before Lendeborg responded with a reverse dunk to cut the deficit to 56-55.
Following a scoreless first half, Elliot Cadeau got into the action with a floater to even it up 61-61 with 11:51 remaining. Michigan went on a 7-0 run to take a 68-61 lead as Gayle scored a layup and McKenney drilled a three-pointer.
McKenney continued to lead the charge, knocking down another triple to put the Wolverines up 71-64. Michigan State eventually cut the deficit to just three points, but Lendeborg hit another clutch three-pointer to give the Wolverines a 76-70 lead with 3:27 left.
Coming out of the final media timeout, Lendeborg found Johnson for an alley-oop dunk to extend the lead to 78-72. Michigan eventually put the finishing touches on a memorable 90-80 win, fueled by a game-high 27 points from Lendeborg.
The Wolverines shot an impressive 10-for-22 from three-point range and won the always-important rebound battle (35-30). Johnson added 18 points and seven rebounds, while Gayle and McKenney combined for 35 points off the bench.
FINAL SCORE: MICHIGAN 90, MICHIGAN STATE 80
MICHIGAN STAT LEADERS
- F Yaxel Lendeborg: 27 points (game-high), 3 rebounds, 3 assists
- F Morez Johnson Jr: 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks
- G Roddy Gayle Jr: 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
- G Trey McKenney: 12 points, 2 rebounds
- G Nimari Burnett: 10 points, 5 rebounds
MICHIGAN STATE STAT LEADERS
- F Jaxon Kohler: 23 points, 8 rebounds
- G Jeremy Fears Jr: 22 points, 9 assists
- C Carson Cooper: 19 points, 6 rebounds
UP NEXT
Michigan will attempt to build on the historic season in Chicago at the Big Ten Tournament next week. The Wolverines are scheduled to open postseason play in the quarterfinals on Friday at noon ET on Big Ten Network against a to be determined opponent.
