Michigan Dominates La Salle in 102-50 Rout, Moves to 11-0
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Michigan didn’t just win on Sunday - they overwhelmed. In a Winter Break blowout at Crisler Center, the second-ranked Wolverines rolled to a 102-50 victory over La Salle, flexing their depth, efficiency, and defensive intensity in a game that was never in doubt.
Let’s break it down.
Balanced Attack, Highlighted by McKenney’s Breakout
Freshman guard Trey McKenney picked a good time to have his best game in maize and blue. The talented newcomer led Michigan in scoring for the first time this season, dropping 17 points on a perfect 3-for-3 clip from deep - all in the first half. He found his rhythm early and never looked back, giving a glimpse of the offensive upside that makes him such an intriguing piece in this rotation.
Elliot Cadeau was right behind him, adding 14 points - 13 of them before halftime - and matching McKenney’s three triples. Cadeau’s confidence from beyond the arc helped Michigan stretch the floor and open up driving lanes early, setting the tone for what became a highlight reel of offensive execution.
And then there was Aday Mara - the 7-footer continues to be a model of efficiency. Mara notched his fourth double-double of the year, going 5-for-5 from the field and 4-for-4 at the line, while pulling down 10 boards. His presence in the paint was felt on both ends, anchoring the defense and cleaning up on the glass.
L.J. Cason also had his best scoring output of the season with 13 points.
He knocked down three triples and added four assists in a well-rounded performance. Morez Johnson Jr. rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points, plus four rebounds and three steals - another example of the energy and versatility he brings to the floor every night.
First Half: Wolverines Set the Tone Early
Michigan wasted no time getting going. Cadeau opened the scoring with a confident three from the top of the key, and the Wolverines followed it up with a steal and layup to take control. McKenney’s early heat check - two quick threes - helped build a seven-point cushion, and the margin only grew from there.
La Salle’s aggressive defense backfired, sending Michigan to the free-throw line early and often. The Wolverines reached the bonus before the midway point of the first half and were in the double bonus shortly after a Mara and-one at the 9:30 mark. That aggressiveness led to 10 early La Salle turnovers, which Michigan converted into 19 of their first 31 points.
Cadeau’s back-to-back threes midway through the half gave him double figures in under 10 minutes and pushed Michigan’s lead to 17. The Wolverines were moving the ball well - 12 of their 16 first-half field goals were assisted, with seven different players recording at least one dime. By the time the halftime horn sounded, Michigan was up 21 and had already posted their third-highest first-half point total of the season.
Second Half: Paint Domination and Defensive Clamps
Michigan came out of the locker room with the same energy they started with. Layups on the first two possessions - including a slick Mara-to-Johnson Jr. feed - set the tone for a second half that was all about paint dominance.
The Wolverines scored their first five buckets of the half inside, including a Lendeborg dunk that pushed the lead to 30. A 16-2 run ballooned the advantage to 35 by the 12-minute mark, and Michigan never looked back.
Defensively, they were suffocating. La Salle went nearly six minutes without a field goal, and Michigan took full advantage, going on an 11-0 run that featured three layups and another three-pointer from Will Tschetter.
The Wolverines were relentless on both ends, and the bench got in on the action late. Winters Grady buried a corner three, Oscar Goodman added a putback, and Howard Eisley Jr. hit from deep to cap off a 100-point night - Michigan’s second straight and sixth of the season.
The defense was especially stout after halftime. All six of Michigan’s blocks came in the second half, and they held La Salle to just four points in the paint after the break. Overall, the Explorers managed just 20.8% shooting on two-point attempts - a testament to Michigan’s interior presence and defensive rotations.
Looking Ahead
Michigan will close out its non-conference home slate next Monday (Dec. 29) against McNeese. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. on B1G+, and it’ll be the Wolverines’ final tune-up before diving into the heart of Big Ten play.
Notable Numbers and Nuggets
- Historic Philly Double: This was only the second time in program history that Michigan has faced two of Philadelphia’s “Big 5” schools in the same season. The last time?
- That year, the Wolverines faced Penn and Temple five days apart.
- Familiar Faces: La Salle head coach Darris Nichols and Michigan head coach Dusty May have history - they were both on staff at Florida from 2015 to 2018.
- From Deep: Michigan has now shot 45% or better from beyond the arc in four games this season, including back-to-back outings.
- Defensive Milestone: The 50 points allowed were the fewest Michigan has given up in a game this season.
- Consistent Scoring: Johnson Jr. recorded his eighth double-digit scoring game of the year, tying Lendeborg for the team lead in that category.
- Century Club: Michigan has now scored 100+ points in five of its last six games and six times total this season.
- Fast Starts: The Wolverines have scored 50 or more points in 10 of 22 halves this season - including seven of their last 12.
Bottom line: Michigan is rolling. The offense is humming, the defense is tightening up, and the depth is showing out. With Big Ten play looming, the Wolverines look like a team ready to make some serious noise.