Michigan Advances to Sweet 16, Defeats Saint Louis 95-72

The University of Michigan Wolverines secured their spot in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament with a dominant 95-72 victory over the Saint Louis Billikens on Saturday, March 21, 2026. This marks Michigan’s 16th appearance in the Sweet Sixteen.

Second-Half Surge Propels Wolverines

Michigan pulled away in the second half, outscoring Saint Louis 47-33 to seal the win. While the Billikens remained competitive in the first half and early stages of the second, Michigan’s strong shooting performance – 55.7% from the field – and defensive pressure proved too much for Saint Louis to overcome.

Key Performances

Yaxel Lendeborg led the Wolverines with a game-high 25 points, shooting 9-of-13 from the field, and added six rebounds. He became the first Michigan player to score 25 or more points without a turnover in an NCAA tournament game since Glen Rice achieved the feat in 1989. Aday Mara contributed 16 points, five rebounds, five assists, and four blocks, while Elliot Cadeau added 12 points and eight assists.

For Saint Louis, Amari McCottry led the scoring with 14 points, followed by Dion Brown with 13 points. Robbie Avila, a key player for the Billikens, was held to nine points on 3-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-10 from beyond the arc.

Defensive Dominance

Michigan’s defense was a significant factor in the victory, recording a season-high nine blocks – the most in an NCAA tournament game for the Wolverines since blocks were first officially tracked in the 1985-86 season. The Wolverines also outrebounded the Billikens 42-27.

Shooting Disparity

Saint Louis struggled with their three-point shooting, going 10-for-32 from beyond the arc. Michigan fared better, connecting on 11 of 23 three-point attempts (48%).

Looking Ahead

Michigan will now advance to play the winner of the matchup between No. 4 Alabama and No. 5 Texas Tech next Friday, March 27. This victory also marks the first time a Big Ten team has recorded back-to-back NCAA tournament games with 90-plus points since the 1989 Michigan team that went on to win the national championship.

Game Statistics

Source: USA Today, The New York Times, Sporting News