No. 2 Michigan Escapes Penn State’s Upset Bid

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — For nearly 35 minutes on Tuesday night, it looked as though the Bryce Jordan Center would be the site of the biggest upset of the young 2026 college basketball season. Instead, the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines relied on their veteran poise and a suffocating final defensive stand to escape with a 74-72 victory over a gritty Penn State squad.

With the win, Michigan improves to 14-0 (4-0 Big Ten), extending the best start in the Dusty May era. For Penn State (9-6, 0-4 Big Ten), the result is a bitter pill to swallow—a "quadrant one" opportunity that slipped through their fingers in the final seconds.

A Tale of Two Halves

The Nittany Lions entered the contest as heavy underdogs but played with the desperation of a team fighting for its postseason life. Penn State jumped out to an early lead behind the hot hand of big man Ivan Jurić. Jurić was a force in the opening frame, connecting on a pair of triples and working the interior to rack up 10 points in the first five minutes alone.

Michigan, uncharacteristically sluggish after a dominant win over USC last week, struggled to find its rhythm. The Wolverines’ "Big Three"—Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., and Aday Mara—found themselves in early foul trouble, forced to navigate a physical Penn State defense that clogged the paint and dared Michigan to win from the perimeter.

By midway through the second half, the Wolverines had managed to build a 15-point cushion, seemingly putting the game on ice. But the Nittany Lions refused to go away.

The Lions Roar Back

Behind the spark of Freddie Dilione V, Penn State mounted a furious 14-2 run to bridge the gap. Dilione, who has flourished in his role as Mike Rhoades’ primary playmaker, attacked the rim with abandonment, drawing fouls and creating open looks for teammates.

With less than two minutes remaining, the Bryce Jordan Center reached a fever pitch as Penn State pulled within a single possession. A crucial turnover by Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau gave the Lions the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead.

The tension peaked when Dilione found space for a contested layup to make it 73-72 with 14 seconds left. After a quick foul, Michigan’s Aday Mara split a pair of free throws, setting the stage for a final, heart-stopping sequence.

The Final Stand

With 8.4 seconds on the clock and no timeouts, Dilione raced the length of the floor. He veered toward the right wing, looking for the three and the win. As the buzzer sounded, his shot rimmed out, grazing the back iron and letting out all the air most fans of both teams were holding onto.

Looking Ahead

Michigan's next opponent is the 9-5. Wisconsin Badgers.  The Wolverines will get back to Crisler Arena and look to get back on track to dominating teams. The close win against Penn State just proves that every game in the Big Ten is earned, not given.

Game Info