Yaxel Lendeborg scored 27 points, Elliot Cadeau had 10 assists and Michigan rolled into the Final Four, overwhelming Tennessee for a 95-62 victory in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
Morez Johnson Jr. added 12 points for top-seeded Michigan, which posted its 11th victory this season by at least 30 points. Aday Mara had 11 points and blocked two shots in the Midwest Region final.
Making the most of its size and athleticism on both sides of the court, Michigan (35-3) advanced to its first Final Four since 2018 and ninth overall. The Wolverines will face Arizona in Saturday’s national semifinals.
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“We all the time wished to play towards them, that crew,” Lendeborg stated. “They seem to be a actually, actually good crew, so it may be a brilliant enjoyable matchup.”
Beneath second-year coach Dusty Might — who took FAU to the Closing 4 in 2023 — the Wolverines turned the primary faculty to win a minimum of 4 video games in an NCAA tourney by double digits whereas scoring a minimum of 90 factors in every.
Lendeborg, who was named the area’s Most Excellent Participant, was 10 for 19 from the sphere. He turned the primary Michigan participant to attain a minimum of 23 factors in three consecutive NCAA Event video games since Juwan Howard did it in 4 straight in 1994.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 21 factors on 8-of-22 capturing for Tennessee (25-12), which misplaced within the Elite Eight for the third straight yr underneath Rick Barnes. The 71-year-old coach reached his solely Closing 4 in 2003 with Texas.
Felix Okpara completed with 10 factors and 7 rebounds for the Volunteers, who shot simply 32% (24 of 76) from the sphere. Every crew had 42 rebounds — a serious drawback for a Tennessee crew that normally enjoys a bonus on the glass.
Michigan grabbed management with a 21-0 run within the first half, going from a 16-14 deficit with 11:22 left to a 35-16 lead with 6:10 remaining.
“That is when our protection began clicking,” Lendeborg stated. “We began working out on the break and began doing what we do greatest, and as soon as that occurred, man, I believe the sport was just about known as proper there.”
As soon as once more, Lendeborg was the conductor of an offensive present for the Wolverines. The 6-foot-9 ahead switched palms on a slick reverse layup, then made a no-look cross to Roddy Gayle Jr. for a 3-pointer on a quick break. Then he arrange a 3 by Cadeau with 7:52 to go.
After Tennessee made a push to get again within the sport, Lendeborg scored on a quick break and located Trey McKenney for a 3 on the finish of a 7-0 run that made it 48-26 at halftime.
It was extra of the identical within the second half. Mara, a 7-foot-3 heart, stepped outdoors for one of many Wolverines’ 10 3-pointers. The Michigan portion of the United Heart crowd cheered wildly when seldom-used reserves Charlie May — the coach’s son — and Oscar Goodman entered for the ultimate couple of minutes.
Goodman scored with 2:32 left and Might made a 3 with 1:02 remaining for Michigan’s closing basket.
“Simply enjoying collectively and understanding that all of us want one another to achieve success,” stated Nimari Burnett, who completed with 10 factors and 7 rebounds. “So making that additional cross, that unselfish play that leads from a superb shot to an important shot, I really feel like we had a variety of that, particularly within the first half that constructed that lead.
“We like the place we’re proper now on the finish of the sport.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
