Michigan Shakes Off First Half Three Point Shooting Scare, Throttling Howard In The Second half To Advance

BUFFALO, N.Y. — March Madness is often defined by the "scare"—that moment where a heavyweight looks vulnerable against a relentless underdog. For twenty minutes on Thursday night, the Michigan Wolverines were squarely in the middle of one. However, behind a historic shooting performance and a dominant interior presence, Michigan weathered a first-half blizzard of three-pointers to dismantle the Howard Bison, 101-80, advancing to the Round of 32.

The story of the first half was Howard’s refusal to miss. The Bison entered the locker room having turned the KeyBank Center into their own personal shooting gallery. Led by Bryce Harris and Cam Gillus, Howard shot a scorching 60% from beyond the arc in the opening frame. Gillus, in particular, was unconscious, finishing the game with 21 points on 5-of-6 shooting from deep.

Every time Michigan tried to establish a rhythm, Howard had an answer. Marcus Taylor III (19 points) and Harris (21 points) orchestrated a perimeter attack that exploited every inch of space the Michigan defense afforded them. For a moment, it felt like the "upset alert" sirens were starting to wail.

While Howard lived by the sword on the perimeter, Michigan decided to set up shop at the rim. The Wolverines’ efficiency was nothing short of staggering, finishing the night shooting 67.3% from the field as a team.

The catalyst was sophomore forward Morez Johnson Jr., who put together a perfect "stat-sheet stuffer" of a game. Johnson Jr. led all scorers with 21 points on a flawless 8-of-8 shooting, while also snatching 10 rebounds to secure a double-double. His ability to finish through contact and command the glass effectively neutralized Howard's perimeter heroics.

He wasn't alone in the paint. Junior center Aday Mara was nearly as clinical, contributing 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Mara also served as the hub of the offense, dishing out 6 assists and anchoring the defense with 3 of Michigan’s 8 total blocks. Howard, by comparison, failed to record a single block, illustrating the massive gap in interior rim protection.

The box score tells the story of a game where Howard’s volume shooting met Michigan’s relentless efficiency. To put it simply, in the first half, Howard couldn't miss, and Michigan still held the narrow lead. It didn't take long into the second half to see why Michigan is so great this season under head coach Dusty May. Adjustments were made, and ultimately, Michigans firepower, and depth proved to be too much in the end.

The tide officially turned early in the second half when Michigan’s defensive intensity finally caught up to Howard’s shooters. The Wolverines began to run the Bison off the three-point line, forcing them into contested mid-range jumpers and drives into the waiting arms of Mara and Johnson Jr.

Offensively, the ball movement became a work of art. Michigan recorded 27 assists on their way to 101 points. Point guard Elliot Cadeau was the primary architect, navigating the Howard press and half-court traps to finish with 9 assists. Even when the starters sat, the bench kept the pressure on, with Roddy Gayle Jr. (14 points) and Trey McKenney (10 points) ensuring there was no drop-off in production.

Despite the loss, Howard exits the tournament with their heads held high. Shooting 48.3% from three against a team of Michigan’s caliber is a feat few programs can claim. But for the Wolverines, this was a necessary test. They proved they could withstand a hot-shooting opponent, adjust their defensive scheme, and lean on their superstars to pull away.

Michigan now moves on to the second round, having sent a clear message to the rest of the bracket: if you want to beat the Wolverines, you’ll need to do more than just shoot well—you’ll have to survive their 100-point onslaught.

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