No. 3 Michigan Defeats No. 8 Michigan State in 90-80 Win in Big Ten Regular Season Finale

For the first time since 2013-14, the 3rd-ranked Michigan Wolverines have completed a season sweep over their bitter rivals in the 8th-ranked Michigan State Spartans in their final game of the Big Ten regular season in Ann Arbor on Sunday.

Both Offenses Click in High-Scoring Finish

Before the Wolverines were able to get some key stops down the stretch to pull out the victory in the second half, it was mostly a toss-up for who would take home the win in this game. Both teams were able to find their rhythm on offense, as Michigan would shoot over 49% from the field, while Michigan State would shoot 45% from the field. The only part of the game that favored the Wolverines was their three-point shooting, where they shot 46% from in the win.

Each team had their star players lead the way on offense per usual in this one, as the star Michigan duo of Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr., went to war with Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. and Jaxon Kohler. Lendeborg would lead the Wolverines in scoring as he scored a game-high 27 points, while Johnson Jr. would be a force on both sides of the ball as he scored 18 points and blocked 2 shots in the win.

For Michigan State, Kohler would have one of his best offensive outings of the season as he scored 23 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, while Fears Jr. was a playmaking machine as he nearly finished with a double-double of 22 points and 9 assists in the loss. This game was a far cry from the first meeting between these two teams, as each team’s vaunted defenses struggled to produce any stops until the final 4 minutes of the game.

Michigan Caps Off Historic Big Ten Regular Season

Many Big Ten records have fallen prey to the Wolverines this season, and today’s game marked another historic milestone for Michigan. The Wolverines now officially hold the 3rd-best record in conference in Big Ten history, as they finished the season with a 19-1 record, just barely missing out on an undefeated record.

The only two teams to finish with a better record were the legendary 1970’s Indiana Hoosiers teams coached by Hall-of-Fame coach Bobby Knight, as both the 1974-1975 and 1975-76 Hoosiers squads finished undefeated in the conference. That 1976 Indiana team is widely considered one of the greatest teams in college basketball history, as it was the last time that an undefeated team won the national championship.

The Wolverines also etched themselves alongside those same Hoosier teams, as they also became the first team to go undefeated on the road in Big Ten play this season. This feat is even more impressive when looking at who the Wolverines beat on the road to achieve this record, with tough road games at Michigan State, Purdue, and Illinois. All three of those teams boast some of the best home records in the country over the past several years.

Number One Overall Seed for NCAA Tournament Still in Play for Michigan

Now that the regular season is finally wrapped up across college basketball this weekend, the Wolverines are still very much in the hunt for the top seed in the big dance heading into the Big Ten tournament. The Wolverines currently boast arguably the best resume in the nation for that coveted seed, as their only two losses this season came against Wisconsin and top-ranked Duke Blue Devils on a neutral court.

Of course, in order to snag that top spot in the tournament, the Wolverines still have some work to take care of next week to further ingratiate themselves with the selection committee. If Michigan can take home the Big Ten tournament title by this time next Sunday, don’t be surprised to see the Wolverines overtake Duke for the top spot in the big dance.