Michigan Wolverines Cruise Past UCLA in Second Half

Wolverines outscore Bruins 46-18 in dominant second half performance

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Michigan Wolverines basketball team defeated the UCLA Bruins 86-56 on Saturday afternoon at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. Michigan outscored UCLA 46-18 in the second half to pull away for the decisive victory and improve to 24-1 overall and 14-1 in Big Ten play.

Why it matters

The win over a highly ranked UCLA team continues Michigan's impressive season and solidifies their status as one of the top teams in the country. The Wolverines have now scored 40 or more points in the second half in 37 out of 38 games this season, showcasing their offensive firepower and ability to make adjustments at halftime.

The details

Michigan's offense was firing on all cylinders in the second half, shooting 18-of-23 from the field and grabbing 4 offensive rebounds. The Wolverines also went 6-of-9 from the free throw line in the second half. According to Nimari Burnett, the Michigan players had a players-only meeting at halftime where they discussed what they needed to do better, which aligned with the coaches' message, demonstrating the team's high basketball IQ and maturity.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 15, 2026 at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The players

Michigan Wolverines

The men's basketball team of the University of Michigan, a Division I program that competes in the Big Ten Conference.

UCLA Bruins

The men's basketball team of the University of California, Los Angeles, a Division I program that competes in the Pac-12 Conference.

Nimari Burnett

A player on the Michigan Wolverines basketball team.

Clayton Sayfie

The host of The Wolverine Basketball Show, a podcast covering Michigan basketball.

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What they’re saying

“They had their 37th and 38th half of the season with 40-plus points this season. In the second half, they scored 46 compared to UCLA's 18. After some issues defensively and on the defensive glass in the first half, Michigan tightened it up and continued to play efficient offense, except they took it to another level and started to hit everything — 18-of-23 shooting from the field in the second half.”

— Clayton Sayfie, Host, The Wolverine Basketball Show (on3.com)

“Talking to Nimari Burnett after this game, he said the Michigan players got into the locker room, and the things they said to themselves, amping themselves up like, 'Hey, we need to do this. We need to do that.' Those conversations were exactly what the coaches came in and said to them at halftime. That speaks to how smart this team is, mature they are. They still had confidence and belief.”

— Clayton Sayfie, Host, The Wolverine Basketball Show (on3.com)

What’s next

The Wolverines will look to continue their strong play as they head into the final stretch of the regular season and prepare for the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Michigan's ability to make halftime adjustments and come out with a dominant second-half performance showcases the team's high basketball IQ, maturity, and offensive firepower. This win over a ranked UCLA team further solidifies the Wolverines as one of the top teams in the country this season.