University of Michigan fans must have been happy to tune into Michigan basketball after one of the worst weeks in the football program’s history unraveled in Ann Arbor.
After all, the Wolverines have the No. 1-ranked basketball team in the nation, and entered Saturday night’s game at XFINITY Center in College Park, Maryland, with an astounding six consecutive wins by 25 points or more, including three by at least 40.
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The Wolverines suddenly found themselves in their toughest challenge in a month against a scolding Maryland team, but the offense proved unstoppable once again. Yaxel Lendeborg scored 29 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, and Aday May dunked his way to 18 points, as Michigan rallied from a halftime deficit for a 101-83 win, their fourth time scoring triple digits in the past five games.
The Wolverines (10-0, 2-0 Big Ten) outscored Maryland, 56-33, in the second half and overcame 31 points from Terrapins (6-5, 0-2) senior guard David Coit. Maryland shot 14-for-27 on 3-pointers (52%), with Coit making 8 of 12.
Michigan had 28 assists on 35 made baskets, shooting 60% overall and 12-for-19 from 3-point range (63%).
Maryland game-changing ejection, Pharrel Payne injury
Lendeborg scored the Wolverines’ first 10 points out of halftime to trim the deficit to 56-55, forcing an early Maryland timeout.
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He was aided when, 75 seconds into the second half, Terrapins senior forward Solomon Washington earned his second technical foul of the game and was ejected. Michigan was down 56-47 at the time, then immediately went on an 8-0 run, all from Lendeborg.
The size disadvantage became even clearer without Washington, since Terps senior forward and leading scorer Pharrel Payne exited in the first half with a knee injury.
Maryland Terrapins forward Pharrel Payne is helped off the court after suffering an injury in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at Xfinity Center, Dec. 13, 2025 in College Park, Maryland.
The game changed with 4:36 left in the first half and Maryland leading, 37-36, when Payne was helped off the court with a lower-leg injury after he was landed on by Lendeborg on a contested rebound. Payne, averaging 18.7 points per game, had seven points and four rebounds, two assists and three blocks at the time. He returned to the bench but was ruled out.
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Michigan trailed 50-45 at halftime, despite making 6 of 10 3-pointers, outscoring Maryland in fastbreak points, 15-3, and dominating with points in the paint, 20-10. The Terrapins, in Year 1 under coach Buzz Williams, shot a blistering 10-for-18 on 3s, with Coit making six for 22 points.
READ MORE: Warde Manuel’s future tied to Michigan’s Sherrone Moore investigation
Michigan basketball schedule
The Wolverines have one game over the holiday break in the next 15 days, and don’t play another Big Ten game until January. They next play Sunday, Dec. 21, in a nonconference home game against La Salle (4 p.m., Peacock).
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Dec. 21: vs. La Salle, 4 p.m., Peacock
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Dec. 29: vs. McNeese State, 7 p.m., B1G+
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Jan. 2: vs. USC, 7 p.m., Peacock
Make “Hail Yes!” your go-to Michigan podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify).
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan vs Maryland basketball game: Yaxel Lendeborg scores 29 points
