In a thrilling matchup, the top-seeded Michigan Wolverines overcame a first-half challenge from the ninth-seeded Saint Louis Billikens to secure a 95-72 victory in the Midwest Region's second round of the NCAA Tournament. With this win, Michigan advances to the Sweet 16 for the 20th time in their storied March Madness history. They'll face either Texas Tech or Alabama next, with the showdown set for March 27 in Chicago.
The Wolverines, now boasting a 33-3 record, have been an offensive powerhouse this tournament, nearly hitting the century mark for the second consecutive game. Their previous outing saw them dominate Howard with a 101-80 scoreline. This time, it was Yaxel Lendeborg leading the charge, dropping an impressive 25 points.
Saint Louis, who wrapped up their season at 29-6 as the A-10 Conference regular season champions, put up a valiant fight. They kept pace with Michigan throughout much of the first half, even holding a 27-25 lead at one point. However, the Wolverines found their groove, heading into halftime with a 48-39 advantage and outscoring the Billikens 47-33 in the second half to seal the victory.
Michigan's balanced attack saw contributions from Aday Mara with 16 points, Morez Johnson Jr. adding 15, Elliot Cadeau chipping in 12, and Nimari Burnett with 11. On the other side, Saint Louis was led by Amari McCottry's 14 points and Dion Brown's 13.
The Wolverines dominated the boards, outrebounding Saint Louis 42-27, and they controlled the paint with a 42-30 scoring edge. This inside presence and depth of scoring options make Michigan a formidable opponent as they continue their March Madness journey.