Michigan Survives Scare in Evanston, Rallies Past Northwestern with Late Surge
Michigan came into Evanston last night with the No. 2 ranking in the country and a clear path to the top spot. On paper, this was supposed to be a routine win - a struggling Northwestern squad sitting at 2-11 in Big Ten play, and a Wolverines team with championship aspirations. But what unfolded was anything but routine.
From the opening tip, Michigan looked flat. The energy wasn’t there, and Northwestern took full advantage.
The Wildcats came out firing, hitting shots from all over the floor while Michigan looked like it was still shaking off the bus ride. The Wolverines trailed by nine at the half, and if you were expecting a second-half surge, it didn’t come right away.
In fact, things got worse.
Northwestern pushed the lead to 16 early in the second half, and suddenly the No. 2 team in the nation was staring down the barrel of a stunning upset. Michigan’s offense was disjointed, and their defensive rotations were a step slow. It was one of those nights where nothing seemed to click - until it did.
Cadeau, who had one of his turnover-prone outings, did manage to shoot well from beyond the arc, but his minutes were limited in the second half. That’s when Cason stepped in and flipped the script. He dropped 13 of his 18 points after the break and brought a much-needed spark to a team that looked lifeless for most of the night.
Yax continued to be the steadying force Michigan needed. He put together another double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while also anchoring the defense in crunch time. His 37 minutes led the team, and it’s no coincidence Michigan’s comeback coincided with his presence on the floor.
The turning point came late. Michigan didn’t reclaim the lead until under six minutes to play, but once they did, the momentum shift was obvious.
Northwestern, already in foul trouble and running low on energy, simply couldn’t keep up. The Wolverines closed the game on a dominant run, flipping a 16-point deficit into a 12-point win.
This wasn’t a pretty win. In fact, it might go down as one of Michigan’s sloppiest performances of the season.
But that’s exactly why it matters. Great teams find ways to win when things aren’t going their way - when the shots aren’t falling, when the energy is off, when the crowd is buzzing against them.
Michigan did just that.
The comeback was built on defense. That’s how you erase a 16-point hole on the road in the Big Ten.
The young bench players stepped up in a big way, with Cason leading the charge and McKenney knocking down big threes en route to 12 points. It was a gritty, team-wide effort - the kind that builds character in February and pays off in March.
Road wins in the Big Ten never come easy, and trips to Chicago always seem to bring a little extra drama for the Wolverines. This one was no different. But when the dust settled, Michigan walked out with a win - and a reminder that even on their worst nights, they’re capable of flipping the switch.
And yes, the NFL Combine invites are out, with Michigan expected to be well-represented. Plus, there's more buzz on the recruiting front - Dusty just reeled in another big-time commitment.
But we’ll save that for another day. For now, the Wolverines can breathe a little easier after surviving a scare and showing why they’re still one of the top teams in the country.