Michigan basketball steamrolls Indiana 86-72 behind 3-point barrage

[ad_1] So, evidently that Michigan basketball group does nonetheless exist.

On the heels of 4 consecutive pedestrian performances (for the Wolverines' extraordinarily excessive requirements), U-M returned house and had its greatest sport in a month.

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Michigan stifled Indiana from the ground, made it rain from lengthy vary and received a variety of these hustle performs coach Dusty Might had been asking for in a 86-72 blowout at Crisler Heart on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

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Michigan wasn't excellent. The Wolverines went 1-for-8 from the free-throw line within the first half and had 9 turnovers earlier than the break, nevertheless it was a lot nearer to the usual Michigan set over the primary two months.

Elliot Cadeau led the way in which, scoring 19, which included 10 of the group's first 12 factors, whereas Aday Mara had 13 and Yaxel Lendeborg scored 15. 4 gamers made a number of 3-pointers – the group shot 10-for-25 from lengthy vary – in what was U-M's greatest taking pictures evening within the new yr.

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No. 2 Michigan (17-1, 7-1 Massive Ten) will look to increase its profitable streak to 4 on Friday, Jan. 23 (8 p.m., Fox) when it welcomes rival Ohio State to Ann Arbor, the evening former star guard Trey Burke is ready to have his jersey put up within the rafters.

<img alt="Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) celebrates a play against Indiana during the first half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026." loading="lazy" width="960" height="640" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="standard-img" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/DOrDuNTQM_WmQbiUwNoazg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/detroit-free-press/bb2215e07f01894693a3c280db4dc3c8"/> Michigan ahead Yaxel Lendeborg (23) celebrates a play in opposition to Indiana through the first half at Crisler Heart in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026.

Rebounding and energy Michigan had ranked outdoors the top-200 within the nation in defensive rebounding over the previous month, however completely dominated the Hoosiers on the glass. U-M gained the battle of the boards 41-25 (it was 24-8 on the half) which led to a decisive benefit on second-chance factors.

All evening lengthy, Michigan introduced the juice. It began early on protection, when Roddy Gayle Jr. set the tone, walling off IU main scorer Lamar Wilkerson on three straight drive makes an attempt. Later, Morez Johnson Jr. swatted a Wilkerson layup try after he and Nimari Burnett had him trapped, which led to a runout.

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One among U-M's early turnovers got here when Cadeau tried a behind-the-back bounce cross to Mara. It appeared to result in a quick break for IU the opposite method, just for Will Tschetter to race down courtroom, gradual the push and drive a Trent Sisley missed floater, which earned a high-five from Might.

<img alt="Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21) defends Indiana guard Lamar Wilkerson (3) during the first half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026." loading="lazy" width="960" height="1200" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="standard-img" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/OniC8mW7EWvaYHQtd_wnLw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEyMDA7Y2Y9d2VicA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/detroit-free-press/feb34b82c3298358caa49fdcc5effa44"/> Michigan ahead Morez Johnson Jr. (21) defends Indiana guard Lamar Wilkerson (3) through the first half at Crisler Heart in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026.

The spotlight of the primary half was when Johnson received his personal miss off a free throw and dished the ball to Cadeau. Regardless that he missed the layup, Johnson got here flying by means of for the putback slam to go up, 35-23.

Discovering their stroke U-M had struggled to shoot in latest weeks. Oregon was the primary time prior to now six video games it made even 33% of its 3-pointers, nevertheless it discovered its vary once more in opposition to the Hoosiers. Cadeau made his first two 3-point tries of the evening earlier than McKenney received going, hitting two in lower than two minutes to place the Wolverines up early, 22-5.

<img alt="Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau (3) shoots a 3-pointer against Indiana guard Conor Enright (5) during the first half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026." loading="lazy" width="960" height="1200" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="standard-img" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/fDzA6.xhEAeE87JxTJx1Ng--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEyMDA7Y2Y9d2VicA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/detroit-free-press/de4d4d31faaee93c1546e88368ecaf12"/> Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau (3) shoots a 3-pointer in opposition to Indiana guard Conor Enright (5) through the first half at Crisler Heart in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026.

Although IU clawed again after making simply 1 of 15 photographs to open the sport, the group, Michigan at all times had a solution from deep

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Tschetter and Burnett buried back-to-back photographs from behind the arc to make it 28-13 and as quickly as IU received inside 10, Tschetter canned one other to make it 38-25 earlier than going into the break up 40-29.

Michigan picked up proper the place it left off within the second half. Lendeborg probed and kicked out to the left nook for a Burnett 3 earlier than Mara threw a one-hand swing cross out to Lendeborg on the following possession who drilled a 3 of his personal, forcing an IU timeout down 48-33 with 18:00 left.

Burnett's third lengthy ball of the evening, this from the left nook, made it a 20-point lead with 14 minutes to play and the sport would by no means actually get tight once more.

Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat author for the Detroit Free Press. Electronic mail him at apgarcia@freepress.com and observe him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.