Michigan and Michigan State Claim Close Wins Ahead of Rivalry Matchup

No. 3 Michigan and No. 8 Michigan State both prevailed in tight contests as they prepare to face off on Sunday.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans both secured narrow victories on Thursday night, setting the stage for their highly anticipated showdown this Sunday. No. 3 Michigan held off a late surge from Iowa to win 71-68, while No. 8 Michigan State edged Rutgers 91-87. The two in-state rivals will now meet on Sunday with major Big Ten implications on the line.

Why it matters

The annual Michigan-Michigan State matchup is always a marquee event in college basketball, and this year's edition carries extra significance with both teams ranked in the top 10 and jockeying for position in the Big Ten standings. The outcome could have major ramifications for their seeding in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

The details

For Michigan, Morez Johnson Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg each scored 16 points, and Aday Mara hit two key shots late to help the Wolverines hold off Iowa. Michigan State, meanwhile, overcame a one-point halftime deficit by going on an 11-0 run to take control against Rutgers. Jeremy Fears and Coen Carr each scored 21 points for the Spartans.

  • Michigan defeated Iowa 71-68 on Thursday night.
  • Michigan State beat Rutgers 91-87 on Thursday night.
  • Michigan and Michigan State will face off on Sunday, March 10th at 4:30 p.m.

The players

Morez Johnson Jr.

A player for the Michigan Wolverines who scored 16 points in their win over Iowa.

Yaxel Lendeborg

A player for the Michigan Wolverines who also scored 16 points in their win over Iowa.

Aday Mara

A player for the Michigan Wolverines who hit two key shots late to help secure the victory over Iowa.

Jeremy Fears

A player for the Michigan State Spartans who scored 21 points and had 8 assists in their win over Rutgers.

Coen Carr

A player for the Michigan State Spartans who also scored 21 points in their victory over Rutgers.

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What they’re saying

“This is a huge win for us heading into the big rivalry game on Sunday. We knew Iowa would give us a tough battle, but our guys stepped up when it counted.”

— Juwan Howard, Head Coach, Michigan Wolverines (Michigan Daily)

“We had to grind this one out, but I'm proud of the way our team responded in the second half. We're playing our best basketball at the right time of year.”

— Tom Izzo, Head Coach, Michigan State Spartans (Lansing State Journal)

What’s next

The winner of Sunday's Michigan-Michigan State matchup will likely secure a top-4 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and a double-bye into the quarterfinals.

The takeaway

The in-state rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State remains as intense as ever, with both teams proving they can win close games against tough conference opponents as they gear up for their highly anticipated showdown this Sunday.