No. 3 Michigan beats No. 7 Michigan State 83-71, takes sole possession of 1st place

Yaxel Lendeborg led the Wolverines with 26 points and 12 rebounds in the Big Ten matchup.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 10:47pm

The No. 3 ranked Michigan Wolverines defeated the No. 7 ranked Michigan State Spartans 83-71 in a Big Ten conference matchup. Yaxel Lendeborg led the Wolverines with 26 points and 12 rebounds, while Elliot Cadeau scored 17 points and Morez Johnson added 12 points for Michigan. The win gives the Wolverines sole possession of first place in the Big Ten standings.

Why it matters

This game was a highly anticipated matchup between two top-10 ranked teams in the Big Ten, with major implications for the conference standings. Michigan's victory over their in-state rival solidifies their position as one of the top teams in the country and gives them an advantage in the race for the Big Ten regular season title.

The details

Michigan jumped out to an early lead and maintained control throughout the game, leading by as many as 15 points in the second half. The Wolverines shot 50% from the field and outrebounded the Spartans 38-30. Michigan State was led by Olivia Miles, who scored 17 points in the losing effort.

  • The game was played on Friday, January 31, 2026.

The players

Yaxel Lendeborg

A standout forward for the Michigan Wolverines, Lendeborg led the team with 26 points and 12 rebounds in the victory.

Elliot Cadeau

The Michigan point guard scored 17 points to help the Wolverines defeat their in-state rivals.

Morez Johnson

A key contributor for Michigan, Johnson added 12 points in the team's win over Michigan State.

Olivia Miles

The leading scorer for the Michigan State Spartans, Miles recorded 17 points in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was going to be a tough game against a great Michigan State team, but our guys really stepped up and played with a lot of energy and focus tonight.”

— Juwan Howard, Head Coach, Michigan Wolverines

What’s next

The Wolverines will look to build on this win as they continue their push for the Big Ten regular season title, while the Spartans will try to rebound in their next conference matchup.

The takeaway

Michigan's victory over their in-state rival Michigan State solidifies their status as one of the top teams in the country and gives them a clear path to the Big Ten regular season championship.