No. 3 Michigan claims Big Ten regular-season title with an 84-70 win
over No. 10 Illinois
[February 28, 2026]
By STEVE STEIN
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Morez Johnson Jr. had 19 points
and 11 rebounds against his former team as No. 3 Michigan defeated No.
10 Illinois 84-70 on Friday night and clinched the Big Ten
regular-season title.
Johnson, who played for the Illini last season after verbally committing
three years earlier, was booed throughout the game by Illinois fans. |
Michigan's L.J. Cason (2) looks to shoot between Illinois' Ben
Humrichous, left, and Zvonimir Ivisic, right, during the second half of
an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Champaign,
Ill. (AP Photo/Craig Pessman) |
|
Aday Mara had 19 points on 8-for-9 shooting and Yaxel Lendeberg
finished with 16 points and seven rebounds for the Wolverines
(27-2, 17-1), who are 10-0 on the road and have won 23 games by
10 or more points.
The Wolverines won their first outright conference
regular-season title since 2014, when they also clinched with a
win at Illinois.
Michigan's 17 conference victories are the most in school
history.
Keaton Wagler scored 23 points for the Illini (22-7, 13-5), who
have lost four of six, including three in overtime. Wagler
scored in double figures for the 21st straight game.
Kylan Boswell scored 15 points and David Mirkovic had 12 points
and 10 rebounds for the Illini, who entered the game as the Big
Ten's top 3-point shooting team. Illinois was just 9 of 29 from
distance against Michigan.
Michigan led 38-31 at halftime behind Johnson's 13 points.
Down 16-11 after a four-point play by Wagler, the Wolverines
responded with an 11-point run capped by a 3 by Johnson and
never trailed again. They led by as many as 21 points in the
second half.
Michigan’s win snapped a nine-game losing streak against
Illinois that began in 2019. The Wolverines had dropped four in
a row to the Illini at the State Farm Center.
Up next
Michigan: At Iowa on Thursday.
Illinois: Host Oregon on Tuesday.
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