Michigan Hoops Survives Sloppy Play to Beat Nebraska

No. 3 Wolverines show their resilience despite off shooting night and turnovers

Jan. 27, 2026 at 11:47pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The No. 3 Michigan Wolverines basketball team survived a sloppy performance against unranked Nebraska, winning 75-72 despite shooting just 6-of-26 from three-point range and committing 19 turnovers. The Wolverines relied on their size, depth, and effort to overcome the Cornhuskers, who were missing key players due to injury and illness. Michigan's second-half defensive intensity and offensive rebounding proved to be the difference as they pulled away late.

Why it matters

This game highlighted Michigan's ability to win "ugly" and grind out victories even when their shots aren't falling. While the Wolverines no longer look like the dominant juggernaut they were in November and December, their physicality, depth, and determination make them a dangerous team come March Madness. The win also keeps Michigan in the hunt for a Big Ten regular season title.

The details

Michigan struggled with its shooting and turnovers, allowing Nebraska to hang around for much of the game. The Cornhuskers led for nearly the entire first 39 minutes before Michigan finally took the lead late. The Wolverines won the game by crashing the offensive glass, forcing turnovers, and playing relentless defense to wear down Nebraska. Michigan's size and effort proved to be the difference, as they outrebounded the Huskers 43-29 and scored 10 of their final 16 points off Nebraska miscues.

  • Michigan led just once (at 3-2) in the game's first 38:53 before finally taking the lead for good late.
  • The Wolverines scored 10 of their final 16 points off Nebraska turnovers in the last few minutes.

The players

Morez Johnson Jr.

Michigan forward who had a game-high 12 rebounds and provided energy and effort that helped the Wolverines overcome their offensive struggles.

Trey McKenney

Michigan guard whose bucket late in the game finally gave the Wolverines their first lead of the night.

Aday Mara

Michigan center who used his size and shot-blocking ability to disrupt Nebraska's offense.

Yaxel Lendeborg

Michigan forward who made plays in transition to help the Wolverines pull away late.

Jamarques Lawrence

Nebraska guard who scored 16 points in the first half to keep the Cornhuskers in the game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“They were tired early in the game. We're very deep, you know, and that helped us a lot.”

— Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan forward

“In the instances where we defended the three and they were able to get behind our switches, just our second effort was able to get there and change the shot with our size, length and athleticism. Ultimately, I thought that was the difference, just the fact that we weren't giving up on plays, even when we made a mistake ... especially in the last eight or 10 minutes of the game.”

— Dusty May, Michigan head coach

“I didn't think we did a whole lot of things well [Tuesday] other than just our sheer determination to win in the last four to five minutes was impressive.”

— Dusty May, Michigan head coach

What’s next

Michigan will face a tough road test against rival Michigan State on Friday, which will be a good barometer for how the Wolverines respond to their first loss of the season and continued sloppy play.

The takeaway

While Michigan no longer looks like the dominant team it was earlier in the season, the Wolverines have shown the ability to win games through sheer physicality, effort, and determination when their shots aren't falling. This resilience and toughness could serve them well come March Madness, where the ability to grind out victories is often more important than style points.