Michigan mounts late rally to stun Penn State
Jan 27, 2025; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) shoots against Penn State Nittany Lions forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) in the first half at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Tre Donaldson scored 21 points Monday night, including the last seven of a game-ending nine-point flurry that gave Michigan a 76-72 Big Ten Conference win over visiting Penn State in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The Nittany Lions (13-8, 3-7) were on the verge of one of their best wins of the season after Ace Baldwin Jr. sank a pair of free throws for a 72-67 lead with 2:08 remaining, but the Wolverines (15-5, 7-2) responded.
Roddy Gayle Jr. dunked with 1:42 left off a Donaldson pass to cut the margin to three and Donaldson sank a mid-range jumper with 58 seconds on the clock.
After Danny Wolf rejected Nick Kern's layup, Donaldson drove, stepped back and buried a 3-pointer from the right wing for a 74-72 edge with 24 seconds remaining.
Donaldson then rebounded Baldwin's missed 3-pointer, drew a foul and made both ends of a one-and-one with 4 ticks remaining to ice the win for Michigan.
Wolf added 11 points and nine rebounds, while Nimari Burnett hit for 10 points as the Wolverines connected on 12 of 28 3-pointers (42.9 percent).
Kern scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Penn State, while Baldwin added 15 points, six assists and three steals. D'Marco Dunn came off the bench to net 13 points.
Coming off its first blowout loss of the year - a 91-64 defeat Friday night at then-No. 11 Purdue that knocked it out of the Top 25 - Michigan led most of the first half but struggled to gain separation from Penn State.
Neither team led by more than six points during a first half that included seven ties. The Wolverines were up 17-11 when Burnett dunked off a feed from Vladislav Goldin at the 14:24 mark but the Nittany Lions wouldn't let them pull away.
Penn State took its first lead with 5:54 left in the first half on a 3-pointer by Dunn that made it 28-27. Michigan fought back to earn a four-point advantage before the Nittany Lions earned a 35-35 tie at the break on two foul shots by Kern with 41 seconds remaining.
--Field Level Media
2026 Home Run Derby Props: Three Best Bets for Monday Night
Ranking Three No. 2 Wide Receivers Better Than Stefon Diggs
Why MLB's Move of the Home Run Derby to Netflix Hurts Fans
Conor McGregor Lets UFC Momentum Slip Away at UFC 329
Why the Trail Blazers’ Ja Morant Gamble Could Pay Off
- UFC 329 predictions: Best bets for Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway
- Spain vs. Belgium Best Bets: Three Picks for Friday's World Cup Quarterfinal
- MLB Picks Today: Jack Flaherty, Aaron Nola Strikeout Props for Phillies vs. Tigers
- France vs. Morocco Best Bets: Top Picks for World Cup Quarterfinal Clash
- Big 12 Sleeper Picks: Three Teams That Could Win the Conference in 2026
- Scottish Open Predictions: Top Bets, Longshots and First-Round Picks
- MLB Picks for Today: Why the Marlins and Yankees Offer Betting Value

