Michigan Basketball Sweeps Ohio State in Dominant Road Victory

Aday Mara's career-high 24 points fuel Wolverines' 82-61 win over Buckeyes

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Michigan Wolverines basketball team swept their rival Ohio State Buckeyes with a dominant 82-61 road victory in Columbus. The Wolverines led wire-to-wire, with center Aday Mara pouring in a career-high 24 points and adding 6 rebounds. Michigan's length and rebounding advantage proved too much for Ohio State to overcome.

Why it matters

This win over a conference rival on the road is an important confidence-building victory for Michigan as they prepare to face a brutal upcoming stretch in their schedule, including games against Purdue, Duke, Illinois, and Iowa.

The details

Michigan center Aday Mara had a standout performance, showcasing his all-around game with 24 points, 6 rebounds, and even 2 made 3-pointers. The Wolverines' frontcourt duo of Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. (11 points, 12 rebounds) dominated the paint and the glass, helping Michigan outrebound Ohio State 44-31, including 17 offensive rebounds that led to 14 second-chance points. The Wolverines' defense also limited Ohio State's top scorers, with John Mobley Jr. and Christoph Tilly combining for just 14 points after causing problems in the first matchup.

  • Michigan swept the season series against Ohio State on February 8, 2026.
  • The Wolverines previously defeated the Buckeyes in a close game in Ann Arbor earlier this season.

The players

Aday Mara

Michigan's starting center who had a career-high 24 points and 6 rebounds in the win.

Morez Johnson Jr.

Michigan's starting power forward who recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

John Mobley Jr.

Ohio State's leading scorer who was limited to just 4 points after causing problems for Michigan in the first matchup.

Christoph Tilly

Ohio State forward who scored 10 points but was not as much of a factor as he was in the previous game against Michigan.

McKenney

Michigan's reserve guard who provided a spark off the bench, scoring 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting including 2 three-pointers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Aday Mara was unstoppable today. He showcased his entire skillset and really set the tone for us on both ends of the floor.”

— Juwan Howard, Michigan Head Coach (Michigan Daily)

What’s next

Michigan has a couple more manageable games coming up, with a road trip to Northwestern on Wednesday followed by a home matchup against UCLA on Saturday. After that, the Wolverines face a brutal stretch of games against Purdue, Duke, Illinois, and Iowa.

The takeaway

This dominant road win over a conference rival shows that Michigan is peaking at the right time and building the confidence needed to withstand their upcoming challenging schedule. The Wolverines' frontcourt dominance and rebounding advantage were the keys to this decisive victory.