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Feb 8, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Michigan Wolverines center Aday Mara (15) drives to the basket as Ohio State Buckeyes center Ivan Njegovan (7) defends during the first half at Value City Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images | Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
The No. 2 Michigan Wolverines blew past the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday in Columbus, 82-61. Big man Aday Mara scored a career-high 24 points to help the Wolverines stay atop the Big Ten standings. Michigan moved to 22-1 overall and 12-1 in conference play with its eighth straight win.
Here’s how it all went down.
FIRST HALF
Michigan dominated at the rim in the opening minutes, using five offensive rebounds and a 10-2 edge in points in the paint to build a 13-8 lead at the first media timeout. Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. both had buckets early on.
The Wolverines also got instant production from the bench, as Trey McKenney hit a three-pointer just seconds after checking into the game. L.J. Cason also grabbed an offensive rebound and made the layup to help Michigan take an 18-11 lead.
Ohio State went on an 8-3 run to cut into the deficit, but Michigan quickly answered as Yaxel Lendeborg scored five straight points, with the highlight being Elliot Cadeau driving to the lane and finding Lendeborg for a three-pointer to push the lead to 26-19.
The Wolverines continued to shoot the lights out, as Nimari Burnett, Cason and Mara combined to make four straight shots from three-point range in less than three minutes to extend the lead to 38-28 with 3:39 remaining in the half.
"Every NBA scout just took note of that one."@umichbball's Aday Mara drills his first triple of the season
: CBS pic.twitter.com/J71CKWY24X
— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) February 8, 2026
In the final seconds of the half, Johnson snatched an offensive rebound and converted an and-one to go up 44-32. Michigan led 44-34 at halftime after shooting 9-for-18 from three-point range to go along with a 25-19 rebounding edge.
HALFTIME: MICHIGAN 44, OHIO STATE 34
SECOND HALF
On the opening possession of the second half, Lendeborg cut backdoor and threw down a thunderous one-handed dunk to extend the lead to 46-34. Just moments later, Cadeau found Mara for an alley-oop dunk to push the lead to 50-36.
Michigan continued to attack the rim and find success, as Lendeborg blocked a shot and found a cutting Johnson for a slam of his own. Meanwhile, Ohio State couldn’t buy a bucket, as it went nearly five minutes without a point.
Mara was unstoppable in the second half, scoring 10 points in 10 minutes to help Michigan build a 60-46 lead with 8:15 left. The Wolverines went on an 8-0 run to take a 72-52 lead and essentially put the game out of reach.
For good measure, Michigan continued to push the pace and score in transition as Mara finished back-to-back buckets to set a new career-high of 24 points. Lendeborg was also relentless on the glass, totaling a game-high 14 rebounds to go with 14 points.
Michigan showed why it is considered favorites to win the Big Ten, putplaying Ohio State from start to finish. The Wolverines recorded advantages in rebounds (44-31), paint points (42-20), bench points (23-11) and fast-break points (10-0).
FINAL SCORE: MICHIGAN 82, OHIO STATE 61
MICHIGAN STAT LEADERS
- C Aday Mara: 24 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks
- F Yaxel Lendeborg: 14 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists
- G Trey McKenney: 12 points, 3 rebounds
- F Morez Johnson Jr: 11 points, 12 rebounds
OHIO STATE STAT LEADERS
- G Bruce Thornton: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
- F Devin Royal: 15 points, 6 rebounds
- C Christoph Tilly: 10 points, 3 rebounds
UP NEXT
The Wolverines will aim for a ninth straight win during their road trip to Northwestern on Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network).
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