The top-seeded Michigan Wolverines flexed its size, depth and defensive intensity Saturday, rolling past the ninth-seeded Saint Louis Billikens 95–72 in the second round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Region to secure a return trip to the Sweet 16.
Yaxel Lendeborg led the charge with 25 points, punctuating his standout performance with a thunderous transition dunk that helped Michigan seize control midway through the second half and silence any hopes of a Billikens comeback. The victory improved the Wolverines to 33–3, matching a program record for wins previously set during their 2018 Final Four season.
Michigan now advances to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year — and the seventh time since 2017 — where it will face the winner of Texas Tech and Alabama on Friday in Chicago.
Size and defense fuel Wolverines’ dominance
Michigan’s frontcourt presence proved overwhelming throughout the night. Seven-foot-three center Aday Mara delivered another imposing performance with 16 points, five rebounds and four blocks. His season total of 96 blocks leaves him just one shy of matching the program’s single-season record set by Roy Tarpley in 1985–86.
Morez Johnson Jr. added 15 points and eight rebounds as the Wolverines controlled the paint and dictated tempo on both ends of the floor.
Saint Louis entered the matchup riding the momentum of a program-record 29-win season, but Michigan neutralized the Billikens’ biggest strength — perimeter shooting. The Wolverines held Saint Louis to just 5-of-17 shooting from three-point range in the first half and 10-of-32 overall for the game.
Senior center Robbie Avila, one of the nation’s most prolific three-point shooting big men, struggled to find rhythm, finishing 3-of-13 from the field and 3-of-10 from beyond the arc.
The teams traded the lead six times over the opening 10 minutes in a tightly contested start. But Michigan seized control for good when Trey McKenney drilled a three-pointer with 9:37 remaining in the first half, igniting a decisive 9–0 run that created separation.
From there, the Wolverines steadily built their advantage behind balanced scoring and disciplined defensive pressure.
Michigan’s athleticism and pressure defense broke the game open midway through the second half.
Lendeborg delivered the night’s signature moment by powering through two defenders for a highlight-reel transition dunk that pushed the Wolverines ahead 66–57 and energized the bench. Moments later, Nimari Burnett intercepted a pass and converted a fast-break layup to extend the lead to 73–58 — effectively sealing the outcome.
The sequence reflected a key improvement for Michigan after last week’s 80–72 loss to Purdue Boilermakers in the Big Ten Tournament title game, where slow second-half starts proved costly.
This time, the Wolverines finished strong. Amari McCottry led Saint Louis with 14 points and five rebounds, but the Billikens were unable to overcome Michigan’s length and defensive pressure. The loss dropped Saint Louis to 0–6 all-time in NCAA Tournament second-round games.
Still, the Billikens capped a memorable campaign that included a school-record 29 victories and a dominant 102–77 first-round win over Georgia.
Michigan, meanwhile, looks every bit like a national title contender — and with its frontcourt playing at an elite level and transition defense clicking, the Wolverines are gaining momentum at exactly the right time.
