No. 2 Michigan rallies past Northwestern 87-75 for its ninth straight win

Wolverines erase 16-point deficit in second half to defeat Wildcats

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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L.J. Cason scored 13 of his 18 points after halftime, helping No. 2 Michigan rally for an 87-75 victory over Nick Martinelli and Northwestern on Wednesday night. Yaxel Lendeborg added 15 points and 12 rebounds as the Wolverines (23-1, 13-1 Big Ten) erased a 16-point deficit in the second half of their ninth consecutive victory.

Why it matters

Michigan's comeback victory over Northwestern showcases the team's resilience and ability to overcome large deficits, a valuable trait as they continue their pursuit of a Big Ten title and potential national championship. The game also highlights the competitive nature of the Big Ten conference, where even highly ranked teams can face challenges from their opponents.

The details

Michigan center Aday Mara's alley-oop dunk off a pass from Cason gave the Wolverines a 75-69 lead with 4:43 remaining, as the team shot 55% (16 for 29) while outscoring Northwestern 52-31 in the second half. Jayden Reid scored 20 points for the Wildcats, who used an 8-1 run to open a 58-42 lead in the second half before Michigan rallied.

  • Michigan grabbed control with a 15-2 run in the second half.
  • Lendeborg made a tiebreaking layup with 5:51 left to give Michigan the lead.
  • Mara's alley-oop dunk off a pass from Cason gave Michigan a 75-69 lead with 4:43 remaining.

The players

L.J. Cason

A Michigan player who scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half to help lead the Wolverines' comeback.

Yaxel Lendeborg

A Michigan player who scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the victory.

Nick Martinelli

A Northwestern player who finished with 18 points on 5-for-22 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds.

Jayden Reid

A Northwestern player who scored 20 points in the loss.

Aday Mara

A Michigan player who scored 12 points, including a key alley-oop dunk in the second half.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

Michigan's comeback victory showcases the team's resilience and ability to overcome large deficits, a valuable trait as they continue their pursuit of a Big Ten title and potential national championship. The game also highlights the competitive nature of the Big Ten conference, where even highly ranked teams can face challenges from their opponents.