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.
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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.
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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.
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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 score in crazy comeback win vs Northwestern