Michigan Rolls Past Saint Louis 95-72, Advances to Sweet 16

Michigan left little doubt in its second-round NCAA Tournament matchup, pulling away from Saint Louis for a convincing 95-72 victory behind an efficient offensive performance and control of the paint.

The Wolverines (33-3) set the tone early, shooting 53.1% in the first half to build a 48-39 lead at the break. From there, they tightened their grip in the second half, knocking down 58.6% of their shots and stretching the lead to as many as 25 points.

Yaxel Lendeborg led the way with a game-high 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting, adding six rebounds in an efficient all-around performance. He was one of five Michigan players in double figures, showcasing the balanced attack that has made the Wolverines dangerous all season. Lendeborg had several highlight-reel dunks and showed why he was named the Big Ten Player of the Year.

Morez Johnson Jr. added 15 points and eight rebounds, while Aday Mara provided a strong presence inside with 16 points, five rebounds, and four blocks. Michigan’s interior dominance was clear, outscoring Saint Louis 42-30 in the paint and controlling the glass with a 42-27 rebounding advantage. The Big 3 in maize and blue proved to be too much for the Billikens. Lendeborg, Johnson and Mara were just too big and too good for Saint Louis to handle.

In the backcourt, Elliot Cadeau orchestrated the offense with eight assists to go along with 12 points, while Nimari Burnett chipped in 11 points, including three made three-pointers. As a team, Michigan shot 55.7% from the field and a strong 47.8% from beyond the arc.

Saint Louis (29-6) struggled to keep pace offensively, shooting just 44.3% from the field and 31.3% from three-point range. Saint Louis's best player, Robbie Avila, had just nine points and five assists, while Amari McCottry (14 points) and Dion Brown (13 points) were the primary scoring options. However, no Saint Louis player was able to consistently break through Michigan’s defense.

The game featured seven lead changes in the early part of the first half, but Michigan took firm control midway through, and never looked back. The Wolverines also capitalized on second-chance opportunities, doubling Saint Louis 14-7 in that category.

Despite a solid contribution from the Saint Louis bench, which outscored Michigan’s reserves 26-16, the Billikens couldn’t overcome Michigan’s efficiency and depth.

With the win, Michigan advances to the Sweet 16, continuing what has been a dominant season. If this performance is any indication, the Wolverines’ combination of scoring balance, interior strength, and shooting efficiency makes them a formidable contender as the tournament progresses.