No. 2 Michigan overcomes season-high 16-point deficit to down Northwestern

Field Level Media|published: Wed 11th February, 23:37 2026

Feb 11, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Michigan Wolverines center Aday Mara (15) dunks the ball against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

L.J. Cason scored 18 points and Yaxel Lendeborg notched a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds to help No. 2 Michigan rally for an 87-75 victory against host Northwestern on Wednesday in Evanston, Ill.

Michigan faced its largest halftime deficit, nine points, and trailed by a season-high 16 when the Wildcats' Angelo Ciaravino hit a jumper in the paint to cap an 8-2 run with 14:22 left.

The Wolverines (23-1, 13-1 Big Ten) regrouped behind torrid shooting. Trey McKenney drilled a 3-pointer to put Michigan ahead 68-67 with 7:14 to go for its first lead since 10-8.

Northwestern's Jayden Reid responded with a jumper the next time down the floor, but Michigan had the answer, never relinquishing the advantage after the 5:51 mark and leading by as many as 12 points.

Michigan shot 55.2% in the second half compared to 30.8% for Northwestern. The Wolverines closed the game on a 27-8 run.

Aday Mara had 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Michigan. Morez Johnson Jr. contributed 12 points and nine rebounds and McKenney scored 12 points.

Northwestern (10-15, 2-12) forced 12 turnovers and held the edge in fast-break points but couldn't sustain a hot start from the field or on the glass.

Reid paced the Wildcats with 20 points. Nick Martinelli had 18 points and eight rebounds and Arrinten Page scored 11 points.

Northwestern started 8-for-12 from the floor and only marginally cooled after that, riding 51.6% first-half shooting to a 44-35 lead at the break.

Michigan struggled to 35% shooting in the first half, including a 4-for-17 effort from deep.

The Wildcats seized control with a 12-0 run that featured seven points from Tre Singleton, who capped the spurt with a trey that provided a 29-17 advantage at the 10:05 mark. Michigan snapped a scoreless drought of 5:14 on a Lendeborg alley-oop dunk off a feed from Elliot Cadeau with 9:08 left in the first half.

Fueled by Reid (12 points) and Martinelli (11), Northwestern answered each time the Wolverines tried to chip away. Cadeau led Michigan with nine first-half points. He finished with seven assists.

Michigan has won nine of its past 10 meetings against Northwestern.

--Field Level Media