Michigan Defeats Howard 101-80 in NCAA Tournament First Round

Wolverines advance to face Georgia or Saint Louis in second round

Mar. 20, 2026 at 6:49am

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The University of Michigan basketball team defeated Howard University 101-80 in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 19, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. Michigan will advance to the second round, where they will play either 8-seed Georgia or 9-seed Saint Louis on Saturday, March 21.

Why it matters

Michigan's victory over Howard marks the Wolverines' progression in the NCAA Tournament, as they look to rebound from a recent loss to Purdue. Howard's appearance in the tournament was their third in four years, following a First Four win against UMBC for their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.

The details

The game saw Michigan leverage its size advantage, with analysts noting the team's motivation to rebound from a recent loss. Howard, coached by Kenny Blakeney, entered the tournament with experience, but was ultimately outmatched by Michigan's depth.

  • The game took place on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
  • Michigan will play either 8-seed Georgia or 9-seed Saint Louis on Saturday, March 21.

The players

Michigan

The University of Michigan basketball team.

Howard University

A historically Black university located in Washington, D.C., whose basketball team made their third NCAA Tournament appearance in four years.

Kenny Blakeney

The head coach of the Howard University basketball team.

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