Michigan averts disaster, erupts late in 87-75 win vs Northwestern

EVANSTON, IL − For anyone who thought Michigan basketball was going to cakewalk to a Big Ten title, think again. Even if the Wolverines found a way to beat a feisty Northwestern team, 87-75, on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

Michigan trailed by as many as 16 in the second half, but erupted over the final 14 minutes, including a stretch of 11 consecutive made shots to avert disaster and maintain a two-game lead in the Big Ten standings with six games to play.

Much of the credit for the comeback goes to L.J. Cason, who had perhaps the best game of his collegiate tenure, scoring a career-high 16 points, which including nine in a stretch of less than four minute. Yaxel Lendeborg also recorded his second consecutive double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds while Morez Johnson Jr. added 12 points and nine boards.

It was far from a masterpiece, but the Wolverines ultimately found a way to win, which is what this team has done all year.

The Wolverines (23-1, 12-1 in Big Ten) will look to continue their march to a Big Ten title on Saturday, Feb. 14, against UCLA at Crisler Center.

What the heck was that first half?

The Wolverines went up 5-0 in less than a minute, but then Northwestern went crazy.

The Cats ripped off a 29-12 run over the next eight minutes behind Martinelli and Jayden Reid, who scored 15 of their first 17 points in the game. Michigan had the game tied, 17-17, then went really cold, going more than five minutes without a bucket.

The Wolverines looked disjointed all half. There were uncharacteristic turnovers, like when Cadeau inbounded to L.J. Cason after a made Northwestern bucket, but he wasn’t ready and it went straight out of bounds. Or when Cadeau threw a cross-court pass to Lendeborg and it sailed way out of bounds over his head. Or when Mara was trapped in the corner, couldn’t find an outlet and double-dribbled.

Michigan also didn’t get any transition game going, scoring no fast-break points, as the bench also got outscored in an ugly half that Michigan lost, 44-35.

This story will be updated.

Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball score in crazy comeback win vs Northwestern