No. 3 Michigan tops No. 8 Michigan State 90-80 for 15th straight Big Ten win

Yaxel Lendeborg scores 27 points to lead the Wolverines to victory over their in-state rivals.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

Yaxel Lendeborg scored 19 of his 27 points in the first half and Morez Johnson Jr. finished with 18 points, leading No. 3 Michigan in a 90-80 win over No. 8 Michigan State on Sunday to give the Big Ten champions a 15th straight conference win.

Why it matters

The win keeps Michigan in contention for a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, while Michigan State may get a chance to avenge the regular season sweep in the Big Ten Tournament final.

The details

Lendeborg, a preseason All-America selection, was the best player on the court for the second time in the series, going 8-of-12 from the field and matching a career high with five 3-pointers. After Michigan State pulled within three points late, Lendeborg hit a 3-pointer to start a 10-2 run that sealed the victory for the Wolverines.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

The players

Yaxel Lendeborg

A preseason All-America selection who scored 27 points, including 19 in the first half, to lead Michigan to victory.

Morez Johnson Jr.

Finished with 18 points for Michigan.

Jeremy Fears Jr.

Michigan State guard who scored a team-high for the Spartans.

Michigan

The No. 3 ranked team in the country, who won their 15th straight Big Ten game.

Michigan State

The No. 8 ranked team in the country, who were swept by their rivals in the regular season.

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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)

What’s next

The Wolverines will head to the Big Ten Tournament, hoping to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State may get a third shot at their rivals in the Big Ten Tournament final.

The takeaway

This win keeps Michigan in contention for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament, while Michigan State will look to avenge their regular season sweep in the conference tournament.