03/13/26 04:11:00
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03/13 16:09 CDT Aday Mara helps No. 3 Michigan edge Ohio State 71-67 in the Big
Ten tournament
Aday Mara helps No. 3 Michigan edge Ohio State 71-67 in the Big Ten tournament
By JAY COHEN
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) --- Aday Mara scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half,
helping No. 3 Michigan hold off Bruce Thornton and Ohio State for a 71-67
victory Friday in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
Elliot Cadeau had 15 points, seven assists and three steals for Michigan in its
fifth consecutive win. Trey McKenney scored 12 points, and Morez Johnson Jr.
finished with 11.
Mara anchored a strong defensive effort that shut down Ohio State in the final
minutes. It was the first game of the tournament for the top-seeded Wolverines
(30-2), while the Buckeyes (21-12) advanced with a 72-69 victory over Iowa on
Thursday.
Michigan is going for its second straight Big Ten tourney title and fifth
overall. It will face No. 23 Wisconsin on Saturday after the Badgers rallied
for a 91-88 overtime win over No. 9 Illinois in the second quarterfinal of the
day.
Thornton scored 22 points for Ohio State, and Devin Royal had 13. It was the
Buckeyes' third loss of the season against the Wolverines.
Ohio State grabbed its first lead of the game when Royal's 3-pointer from the
top of the key made it 61-60 with 5:40 left.
Mara's layup lifted Michigan to a 67-64 advantage with 2:56 to go. Royal and
Thornton then missed jumpers for Ohio State before Yaxel Lendeborg made a free
throw for the Wolverines with 1:24 remaining.
The Buckeyes pulled within two on Royal's two foul shots in the final seconds,
but Lendeborg responded with two free throws to help close it out.
Lendeborg, the Big Ten player of the year, was held to six points. But he also
had six assists and five rebounds.
Michigan opened a 29-18 lead on Lendeborg's fast-break jam over Ohio State's
Christoph Tilly with 6:25 left in the first half, sending a charge through the
crowd at the United Center. But Thornton converted a runner in the final
seconds, trimming the Wolverines' advantage to 39-35 at the break.
Up next
Michigan's first loss of the season was against Wisconsin on Jan. 10. The
Wolverines surrendered 54 points in the second half of the Badgers' 91-88 win.
___
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