Lendeborg dominated, igniting Michigan's ferocious second-half defense to overwhelm Middle Tennessee and secure a decisive victory.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — For twenty minutes on Wednesday night, the Crisler Center crowd sat in uneasy anticipation. The No. 7 Michigan Wolverines, looking to improve to 4-0 under head coach Dusty May, found themselves in a dogfight with a scrappy Middle Tennessee squad, clinging to a precarious 36-30 halftime lead.
Then came the second half, and with it, a reminder of why this Michigan team has captured the imagination of the fanbase early in the 2025-26 campaign.
Exploding out of the locker room with renewed defensive intensity and a punishing interior attack, the Wolverines buried the Blue Raiders, turning a close contest into an 86-61 rout. While the final score suggests a comfortable night, the game offered a valuable stress test for Michigan ahead of next week’s tournament in Las Vegas.
Here are three bright spots from Michigan’s fourth consecutive victory.
1. Yaxel Lendeborg is the Real Deal
If there were any lingering questions about who might emerge as the alpha in Michigan's frontcourt, Yaxel Lendeborg answered them emphatically on Wednesday. The UAB transfer was a revelation, pouring in a season-high 25 points and ripping down 12 rebounds for his 19th career double-double.
What stood out most was not just the volume of his scoring, but the timing. When the Michigan offense looked stagnant in the first half, it was Lendeborg who kept things stabilizing with his activity on the glass. In the second half, he was virtually unstoppable, scoring 18 of his points after the break. He attacked the rim with aggression, converting tough and-ones and stretching the floor when needed. Lendeborg’s unique blend of length, motor, and touch makes him a nightmare matchup, and his performance against Middle Tennessee suggests he is ready to be the focal point of the Wolverines' offense against high-major competition.
2. The Second-Half Defensive Adjustment
The tale of the tape was strictly a tale of two halves for the Michigan defense. In the first stanza, Middle Tennessee found pockets of space, hitting timely threes to keep the pressure on the heavy favorites. The Blue Raiders entered the break confident, trailing by only two possessions.
Coach Dusty May’s halftime adjustments, however, were clinical. The Wolverines emerged from the tunnel with a suffocating defensive energy that Middle Tennessee simply couldn't match. Michigan held the Blue Raiders to a frigid 28 percent shooting from the field in the second half and conceded just three baskets from long range. The perimeter defense, led by the harassing presence of Elliot Cadeau and Nimari Burnett, forced Middle Tennessee into difficult, contested shots late in the shot clock. This ability to flip the switch defensively, turning a close game into a blowout through sheer effort and schematic discipline, is a hallmark of elite teams.
3. Frontcourt Depth and Paint Dominance
While Lendeborg stole the headlines, the contributions of Aday Mara off the bench highlighted the terrifying depth of Michigan's front line. The 7-foot-3 sophomore logged his third double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds, providing no respite for the Blue Raiders when the starters sat.
Between Lendeborg, Mara, and Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan’s size was overwhelming. The Wolverines scored a staggering 34 points in the paint in the second half alone. They didn't just settle for jumpers; they pounded the ball inside, drawing fouls and generating high-percentage looks. This "inside-out" approach wore down the smaller Middle Tennessee roster physically. The luxury of bringing a player of Mara’s caliber off the bench gives Michigan a distinct advantage in attrition battles, ensuring that their rim protection and rebounding remain elite for a full 40 minutes.
What’s Next The Wolverines (4-0) now turn their eyes toward the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, where the competition level will ramp up significantly. They will face San Diego State on Monday, armed with the confidence of a team that knows it can win ugly, win pretty, and dominate the paint when it matters most.