Michigan Outlasts Northwestern in Gritty 87-75 Victory

Wolverines overcome double-digit deficit to stay undefeated on the road this season

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit to defeat the Northwestern Wildcats 87-75 in a hard-fought Big Ten matchup. Head coach Dusty May praised his team's resilience and ability to weather Northwestern's strong start, led by the quickness and scoring of Wildcats guard Jayden Reed. May highlighted the contributions of reserve guard LJ Cason, whose off-ball movement and playmaking helped spark Michigan's second-half comeback. The Wolverines' depth and defensive intensity ultimately wore down the Wildcats over the final 10-12 minutes, allowing Michigan to secure the road victory.

Why it matters

This win keeps Michigan undefeated on the road this season and maintains their position atop the Big Ten standings. The Wolverines have shown the ability to win in a variety of ways, rallying from large deficits and relying on different players to step up on any given night. This resilience and depth could pay dividends as Michigan looks to secure a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Michigan overcame a 14-16 point deficit in the second half, sparked by the play of reserve guard LJ Cason. Cason's off-ball movement and playmaking helped the Wolverines find their offensive rhythm, leading to open looks for teammates like Trey McKenney, who hit a crucial 3-pointer to give Michigan the lead late. The Wolverines also tightened up defensively, forcing Northwestern into tough, contested shots down the stretch.

  • Michigan trailed by as many as 14-16 points in the second half.

The players

Dusty May

The head coach of the Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, who praised his team's resilience and ability to overcome a double-digit deficit against Northwestern.

LJ Cason

A Michigan reserve guard whose off-ball movement and playmaking helped spark the Wolverines' second-half comeback.

Trey McKenney

A Michigan freshman who hit a crucial 3-pointer late in the game to give the Wolverines the lead.

Jayden Reed

The Northwestern guard whose quickness and scoring ability gave the Wolverines trouble early on.

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What they’re saying

“We wanna give a lot of gratitude to the people that drove here and came to watch us, cuz that was an unbelievable road environment for us. It's something we've never, we haven't experienced anything like that. We've heard some let's go blues at times, but we've never had a takeover like that.”

— Dusty May, Head Coach (on3.com)

“When we're completely lost in the game, we have a really, really, like one of the best, without a doubt, one of the best teams in the country. And so we've gotta continue to focus on what's important, and that's sharing the ball, taking care of it, and trying to be the number one defense in the country.”

— Dusty May, Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

The Wolverines will look to build on this road win when they face off against UCLA on Saturday.

The takeaway

Michigan's ability to rally from a large deficit and rely on contributions from different players showcases the team's depth and resilience, which could prove crucial as they continue their push for a Big Ten title and high NCAA Tournament seed.