Lendeborg-led Michigan breaks away from Bama, makes Elite Eight

James Hawkins, The Detroit News on Mar 27, 2026

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CHICAGO — The Wolverines’ record-setting season keeps rolling on.

After flipping a switch and taking control after halftime in their first two NCAA Tournament wins, they followed a similar script to march on.

Behind a strong start to the second half and another 20-point game from Yaxel Lendeborg, No. 1 seed Michigan raced past No. 4 seed Alabama, 90-77, in Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup at the United Center.

Lendeborg had 23 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists to lead four double-digit scorers for Michigan (34-3), which reached the Elite Eight for the first time since 2021 and set a program record for wins in a season. Trey McKenney added 17 points, Elliot Cadeau had 17 points and seven assists, and Roddy Gayle Jr. scored 16.

The Wolverines will play the winner of No. 2 seed Iowa State and No. 6 seed Tennessee in the Elite Eight at 2:15 p.m. Sunday. The game will be broadcast on CBS.

After watching a six-point lead turn into a two-point deficit at the break, Michigan turned the game in its favor with its defense and opened the second half on a 13-2 run to pull in front for good.

Lendeborg lost a defender and swished a 3-pointer before he soared in for an offensive putback. Cadeau and Gayle each blocked a 3-point attempt. Lendeborg picked off an inbounds pass that led to a fast-break dunk for Nimari Burnett.

An early Alabama timeout couldn’t stem the tide. Another steal by Lendeborg preceded an and-1 finish at the rim by Gayle. A step-back 3-pointer by Lendeborg capped the spurt and made it 60-51.

A string of eight unanswered points sparked a 13-3 run that pushed the margin to double digits. Gayle buried a corner 3-pointer. Cadeau came away with a steal that led to McKenney bucket before he canned a deep ball and threw a lob to Aday Mara for dunk. Michigan pulled ahead, 75-60, with 9:22 to play.

Alabama cut it to eight when Labaron Philon Jr. buried a 3-pointers to end a string of seven straight points. But it didn’t last long. Mara answered right back and threw down a putback on the ensuing possession to make it a 10-point game at the 7:26 mark.

The Tide threatened to cut it to single digits again, but the Wolverines refused to let it happen. Cadeau splashed a 3-pointer for an 84-70 advantage with 4:09 to go. Alabama never got closer than 12 the rest of the way, despite Michigan missing a bunch of free throws down the stretch and finishing 11-for-20 at the line.

Philon scored 35 and made six 3-pointers, Latrell Wrightsell had 15 points, and Aiden Sherrell had 10 points for Alabama (25-10), which shot 32.3% from the field after halftime and was held to 28 points in the second half.

The Crimson Tide, which entered as the highest-scoring offense that takes more 3-pointers than anyone in the nation, finished 14-for-47 from deep. The Wolverines shot 50% from the field for the game and went 13-for-27 from deep.

Alabama came out swinging and firing away from deep during a fast-paced, high-scoring first half. The Crimson Tide took advantage of second-chance opportunities, forced a pair of early turnovers and hit three 3-pointers in the opening four minutes. Michigan had a pair of 3-pointers from Cadeau rim out and fell behind, 11-2.

The Wolverines punched back with a 12-2 burst. Cadeau hit a baseline floater before he found Lendeborg for a 3-pointer and Aday Mara for a short shot in the paint during a string of nine unanswered points. McKenney capped the spurt with a 3-pointer off a screen from Mara to give Michigan a 14-13 lead with 13:43 left in the first half.

The teams continued to go up and down and back and forth. McKenney hit another deep ball, this time in transition, to give Michigan a two-point edge. Alabama immediately countered with a deep 3-pointer from Philon to regain the lead.

Michigan struggled to slow down Alabama’s high-scoring offense, which answered every time the Wolverines pulled close. After Lendeborg knotted it at 22 on a 3-pointer, Alabama hit two 3-pointers, the second coming off a turnover under the rim, to make it 28-22 at the 8:38 mark.

Michigan eventually got rolling with a 14-3 flurry during a stretch where it made six straight shots. After Morez Johnson Jr. swatted a shot by Philon, Gayle got a friendly bounce on a 3-pointer. McKenney scored on a fast-break layup and step-back 3-pointer. A drive and kick by Lendeborg led to another deep ball for Gayle. The Wolverines took a 47-41 lead with 1:58 left in the half.

What followed was a frustrating finish. Michigan missed its final five shots, including several around the rim. Philon drew fouls, got to the free-throw line and went on an 8-0 personal run to close the half. Michigan saw a six-point lead turn into a two-point deficit at halftime.

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