Michigan Wolverines Cruise Past Northwestern Wildcats

No. 2 Michigan rolls to 16-point victory over struggling Northwestern squad

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The second-ranked Michigan Wolverines continued their dominant season with a 16-point victory over the Northwestern Wildcats on Wednesday night. Michigan's balanced scoring attack and stifling defense proved too much for the overmatched Wildcats, who have now lost nine of their last 11 games.

Why it matters

Michigan's convincing win over Northwestern reinforces their status as one of the top teams in college basketball this season. The Wolverines' ability to consistently win by large margins against inferior opponents demonstrates their championship-caliber talent and coaching. Meanwhile, Northwestern's struggles highlight the challenges they face in competing with the Big Ten's elite programs.

The details

Michigan was led by a strong all-around effort, with four players scoring in double figures. UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg paced the Wolverines with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Morez Johnson Jr. added 14 points and 8 boards, while Aday Mara and Trey McKenney each chipped in 12 points. The Wolverines dominated the glass, outrebounding Northwestern 42-27, and held the Wildcats to just 39% shooting from the field.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

The players

Yaxel Lendeborg

A transfer from UAB, Lendeborg is a key contributor for the second-ranked Michigan Wolverines, averaging 14.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.

Morez Johnson Jr.

Johnson is having a standout season for Michigan, averaging 13.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while leading the Big Ten in field goal percentage at 67%.

Nick Martinelli

Martinelli is the leading scorer for the struggling Northwestern Wildcats, averaging 22.7 points per game and shooting 47.1% from three-point range.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to come in and take care of business against a tough conference opponent. Our guys did a great job of executing the game plan on both ends of the floor.”

— Dusty May, Michigan Head Coach (draftkings.com)

What’s next

Michigan will look to continue their strong play as they prepare to face off against the No. 5 Purdue Boilermakers on February 18th. Northwestern will try to regroup and snap their three-game losing streak when they host the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 15th.

The takeaway

Michigan's dominant victory over Northwestern showcases their status as one of the elite teams in college basketball this season. The Wolverines' balanced scoring, stifling defense, and ability to control the glass proved too much for the struggling Wildcats to overcome, underscoring the significant gap between the Big Ten's top contenders and the rest of the conference.