Michigan basketball delivered a statement win on Saturday, flipping a nine-point second-half deficit into an 18-point blowout on the road against Maryland. That’s a 27-point swing in under 20 minutes of game time - the kind of turnaround that doesn’t just change a game, it changes the tone of a season.
Let’s break down how the Wolverines did it, and why this performance might be more than just a one-off.
Michigan Doubled Up Maryland in the Final 16 Minutes
With 18 minutes left, Michigan trailed 60-51. But in just 90 seconds, the Wolverines had cut the gap to one. A few minutes later, they seized the lead - and never gave it back.
From that point forward, Michigan hit another gear. The Wolverines outscored Maryland 46-23 over the final stretch, including back-to-back 7-0 runs that completely flipped the script.
The Terps had no answers. Michigan’s offense was humming, the defense tightened up, and the game snowballed in their favor.
The final numbers tell the story: Michigan won the second half 56-33. That kind of dominance doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a sign of a team that’s figuring out how to close, how to respond to adversity, and - maybe most importantly - how to play with purpose when the game is on the line.
For Maryland, it’s another tough pill to swallow. All five of their losses this season have come by double digits. When things go south, they go fast.
Yaxel Lendeborg Put the Clamps on Coit - and Stuffed the Stat Sheet
David “Diggy” Coit came out firing. The senior guard had 24 points from beyond the arc and dropped nine of Maryland’s first 10 points. For a while, it looked like he might single-handedly shoot Michigan out of the gym.
But then Yaxel Lendeborg stepped in - and everything changed.
Lendeborg took on the defensive assignment and face-guarded Coit down the stretch. The result?
Coit didn’t hit a single shot in the final 10 minutes. He finished with 31, but just nine of those came in the second half.
Once Lendeborg locked in, Coit couldn’t find space, couldn’t get rhythm, and Maryland’s offense sputtered.
And that’s just one part of Lendeborg’s night.
Here’s the full line:
- 29 Points
- 9 Assists
- 8 Rebounds
- 3 Blocks
- 2 Steals
- 8-of-11 from the field
- 4-of-5 from three
Those are video game numbers. And they don’t even capture the full impact of his two-way dominance. Lendeborg was everywhere - initiating offense, protecting the rim, and, when it mattered most, shutting down Maryland’s hottest scorer.
This wasn’t just a good game. It was a performance that sets a tone for the rest of the season.
Amid Football Uncertainty, Basketball Delivers a Moment
It’s been a chaotic week in Ann Arbor. On the football side, the program is at a crossroads, trying to navigate major changes and figure out who’s steering the ship next. But while that drama unfolds, Michigan basketball gave fans something to rally around.
Dusty May’s squad didn’t just win - they showed resilience, defensive toughness, and a level of execution that suggests this team is starting to find its identity. It was the kind of win that can anchor a season and energize a fanbase.
For a university steeped in football tradition, this was a reminder: there’s something special brewing on the hardwood, too.
Saturday’s win was more than just a box score beatdown. It was a coming-out party for Yaxel Lendeborg, a team-wide flex in the second half, and a timely reminder that Michigan basketball is ready to make noise.