4 months ago
- Wolverines
- Published: Jan. 02, 2026, 9:25 p.m.
ANN ARBOR — A caller twelvemonth and a top-25 force did thing to extremity nan instrumentality that is Michigan men’s basketball.
The Wolverines went acold from 3-point scope and still hit No. 24 USC 96-66 connected Friday nighttime astatine Crisler Center, starring by astatine slightest 25 for nan last 11 minutes.
Even caller Michigan shot coach Kyle Whittingham, introduced to nan crowd during nan first half, gave props to Dusty May to unfastened his speech.
Michigan, classed No. 2 successful nan AP Poll, improved to 13-0 wide and 3-0 successful nan Big Ten.
A monster crippled from Morez Johnson Jr. — a career-high 29 points connected conscionable 12 shots — and different stifling protect capacity made nan difference. USC changeable 35% from nan field, including conscionable 5 for 23 from deep. Michigan was 6 for 30 from 3 but erstwhile again proved it could triumph successful different ways.
Roddy Gayle Jr. added 12 points for nan victors, who changeable 71% wrong nan arc. Michigan is nan champion 2-point-shooting squad successful assemblage basketball.
Friday was nan type of capacity nan Wolverines displayed passim nan 2025 information of their schedule. They started nan crippled connected an 11-0 tally and led by 18 astatine halftime. The separator soared arsenic precocious arsenic 29 pinch 7:53 left.
Michigan sewage contributions up and down nan lineup. Will Tschetter, L.J. Cason and Trey McKenney played good disconnected nan bench, pinch each scoring 10 points. Starting constituent defender Elliot Cadeau (seven assists, 2 steals) was a unit connected some ends of nan floor.
The extracurricular shots weren’t falling, but Michigan turned defense into discourtesy for a assortment of easy baskets. USC (12-2, 1-2), nan nation’s leader successful free throws made and attempted, changeable 21 for 33 from nan statement but different struggled to score.
Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg sustained immoderate benignant of lower-body wounded successful nan first half and hobbled early successful nan 2nd half. He checked retired pinch 15:55 near and Michigan up 20 and did not return. Nimari Burnett near pinch 16:26 remaining, bleeding from nan look and holding his ankle, and did not return.
USC’s Terrance Williams II, a Wolverine for 4 seasons, returned to Crisler Center for nan first clip arsenic a visitor. He played 25 minutes disconnected nan bench, tallying 5 points and 5 rebounds. Chad Baker-Mazara, USC’s starring scorer connected nan season, had 4 fouls successful nan first half and was constricted to 23 minutes. He made 3 of 11 shots.
Johnson’s 4 free throws opened nan second-half scoring and made it 53-31 Michigan. His 3, trailing successful transition, pushed nan separator to 24 pinch 13:18 left. He vanished 10 of 12 from nan section and 8 of 10 from nan statement while grabbing six rebounds and picking up 2 steals complete 27 minutes.
McKenney and Gayle sewage going, giving Michigan a 78-49 lead pinch 7:53 left. The Trojans ne'er sewage overmuch closer.
USC coach Eric Musselman picked up a method foul earlier his squad had moreover scored, screaming for a foul aft 1 of his players slipped and fell. Michigan led 11-0 earlier USC yet sewage connected nan committee aft 6:40 of crippled time.
USC sewage wrong 5 earlier Michigan heated up from deep: Lendeborg and Cadeau connected connected consecutive possessions earlier Johnson muscled his measurement for a basket. Michigan led 23-13.
The Wolverines, though, missed their different 10 3-point attempts, threw a fewer passes retired of bounds and fto USC bent around. The Trojans’ mediocre shooting kept them from a superior surge. Michigan went up 34-21 pinch 3:46 near successful nan half.
Cadeau and Johnson vanished nan half strong, pinch nan constituent defender feeding nan guardant for 2 dunks that pushed Michigan’s separator to 17.
Michigan closed nan half connected a 6-0 run, during which Baker-Mazara picked up his 4th foul. The Wolverines led 49-31 astatine nan break. Like truthful galore erstwhile games, this 1 seemed complete by half, and erstwhile again nan Wolverines continued to predominate nan remainder of nan way.
Michigan visits Penn State connected Tuesday.
- Michigan took handcuffs disconnected Bryce Underwood successful Citrus Bowl and it backfired
- Michigan splits West Coast travel aft falling astatine Washington
- Ex-Wolverine to return to Michigan for top-25 Big Ten showdown
- Because of talent, depth, Michigan’s champion title isn’t against different schools
- Dusty May shares thoughts connected Michigan’s caller shot coach
Andrew Kahn covers University of Michigan athletics for MLive. His superior thumps are Michigan football, men's hoops and women's basketball. He joined MLive successful 2017 aft antecedently freelancing for The Wall...
