Lendeborg Shines as No. 3 Michigan Outlasts No. 7 Michigan State in Rivalry Clash
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Rivalry games always bring the energy, but Friday night in East Lansing, it was Yaxel Lendeborg who brought the dominance.
In his first taste of the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry, Lendeborg didn’t just show up - he took over. The junior forward dropped 26 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, powering No. 3 Michigan to an 83-71 road win over seventh-ranked Michigan State in a game that had all the intensity you'd expect from two Big Ten heavyweights.
With the win, the Wolverines (20-1, 10-1 Big Ten) now stand alone atop the conference standings, fresh off a statement victory over then-unbeaten Nebraska. And while that win was big, this one might’ve meant just a little more - not just for the standings, but for bragging rights in the state.
Michigan State Stumbles Early, Recovers Late - But Not Enough
The Spartans (19-3, 9-2) couldn’t find their rhythm early. They missed 14 of their first 18 shots and finished the first half with more turnovers (11) than made field goals (7). That’s not a recipe for success against any team, let alone a top-three Michigan squad.
Michigan capitalized, building an 18-point lead in the first half and looking every bit the part of a team with national title aspirations. But to their credit, Michigan State didn’t fold.
Coming out of the break, the Spartans found some life. A 13-2 run early in the second half cut the deficit to just three, and when Jaxon Kohler buried a three with 7:57 left, the building erupted - tie game. Moments later, Jeremy Fears, who was nothing short of electric all night, picked a pocket and raced down for a layup to give Michigan State its first lead of the game at 57-55.
Fears finished with a career-high 31 points, putting the Spartans on his back when they needed it most. But Michigan had an answer - and a cold-blooded one at that.
Clutch Shooting, Lockdown Defense Seal It for Wolverines
When the game got tight, Michigan didn’t blink. Over the next three minutes, the Wolverines hit five of their next six shots and locked in defensively, holding Michigan State scoreless during a critical stretch. That run flipped the momentum for good and effectively ended the Spartans’ hopes of a comeback.
Elliot Cadeau chipped in 17 points, providing a steady hand in the backcourt, while Morez Johnson added 12 points of his own. Michigan’s balance was on full display, but it was their poise in the final minutes that stood out.
Kohler finished with 12 for Michigan State, and both Coen Carr and Jordan Scott added 10 apiece. But the Spartans’ biggest issue came from beyond the arc - they went just 4-of-23 from deep, while Michigan knocked down 8-of-21. In a game where every possession felt like it mattered, that shooting disparity loomed large.
Big Names, Big Stage
The atmosphere inside the sold-out Breslin Center was electric, with Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell spotted courtside next to the Spartans’ bench and two-time World Series champion Kirk Gibson - a former Michigan State two-sport athlete - also in attendance. It felt like a March game in January, and both teams brought that kind of edge.
What’s Next
These two will run it back on March 8 in Ann Arbor to close out the regular season - and if Friday night was any indication, that rematch could have major implications for the Big Ten crown.
Up next, Michigan returns home to face Penn State on Thursday night, while Michigan State will look to bounce back on the road against Minnesota on Wednesday.
But for now, the Wolverines walk away with the win - and the upper hand in one of college basketball’s fiercest rivalries.