Michigan Wolverines Clinch Big Ten Championship
In a crucial match on Friday evening, the No. 3 ranked Michigan Wolverines secured an 84-70 victory over the No. 10 Illinois Fighting Illini, thereby clinching the Big Ten regular-season championship.
Key Performers
Morez Johnson Jr., who previously played for Illinois, made a substantial contribution with a double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. His performance was met with consistent boos from the Illinois crowd, as he faced his former fans.
The Wolverines showcased strong teamwork, with Aday Mara matching Johnson’s scoring output with 19 points on an impressive 8-of-9 shooting, and Yaxel Lendeberg adding 16 points along with seven rebounds.
Historic Achievement
With a season record now at 27-2 and a remarkable 17-1 in conference play, Michigan continues to improve its impressive road performance, now undefeated in 10 away games and having achieved 23 wins by margins of 10 points or more.
This victory marked a historic moment for Michigan, as it represents their first outright Big Ten title since 2014, echoing the last time they celebrated this achievement after defeating Illinois. Notably, the 17 conference wins are the highest recorded in the program’s history.
Illinois’ Struggles
For Illinois, Keaton Wagler led the scoring efforts with 23 points, extending his streak of double-figure games to 21. However, the Illini have been struggling, having lost four out of their last six games, including three that went into overtime. In addition to Wagler, Kylan Boswell contributed 15 points and David Mirkovic secured a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, yet the team’s performance behind the arc was disappointing as they managed just 9 of 29 attempts from three-point range.
Game Highlights
At halftime, Michigan was ahead 38-31, largely thanks to Johnson’s contributions. After trailing 16-11 early in the game due to a four-point play by Wagler, Michigan ignited a significant 11-point run, taking control of the game and maintaining a lead that extended to 21 points in the second half.
Ending a Losing Streak
This victory also represents a decisive end to a nine-game losing streak against the Illini, which had been ongoing since 2019. Previously, Michigan had lost four consecutive encounters at Illinois’ State Farm Center.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Michigan is set to face Iowa on Thursday, while Illinois will host Oregon on Tuesday.
