No. 2 Michigan blows out UCLA in second half

Wolverines maintain two-game lead in Big Ten standings

Feb. 15, 2026 at 8:07am

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Yaxel Lendeborg had 17 points and eight rebounds as No. 2 Michigan ran away in the second half to earn an 86-56 Big Ten win over UCLA on Saturday in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan led 40-38 at halftime but pulled away in the second half, growing their lead to as much as 22 points.

Why it matters

The win keeps Michigan in control of the Big Ten standings, maintaining a two-game lead. They are expected to be the new No. 1 team in the country when the AP poll is released on Monday after previous No. 1 Arizona lost earlier this week.

The details

Michigan never trailed in the game, taking a 22-12 lead in the first half before UCLA cut the deficit to 40-38 at halftime. But Michigan pulled away in the second half, going on a 13-4 run early to take a 56-44 lead and then later using a 9-0 run to build a 68-47 advantage. UCLA went nearly six minutes without a field goal during that Michigan spurt.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • Michigan led 40-38 at halftime.

The players

Yaxel Lendeborg

Had 17 points and 8 rebounds for Michigan.

Morez Johnson Jr.

Posted 15 points for Michigan.

Trent Pery

Scored 14 points for UCLA.

Skyy Clark

Contributed 8 points in 16 minutes off the bench for UCLA.

Aday Mara

Added 9 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks for Michigan.

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What’s next

Michigan will look to continue their strong play and maintain their lead in the Big Ten standings as the season winds down.

The takeaway

Michigan's dominant second-half performance against a ranked UCLA team solidifies their status as one of the top teams in the country and a favorite to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.