michigan vs purdue: Michigan reaffirms No. 1 ranking with 91-80 road win
Michigan solidified its hold on the top spot in the national polls Tuesday, beating No. 7 Purdue 91-80 at Mackey Arena. The Wolverines led for the final 33 minutes, opening a first-half advantage as large as 20 points and relying on size, hot perimeter shooting and timely answers to Purdue runs to carry them through.
Size, depth and a decisive first-half run
After Purdue opened with the first two baskets, Michigan seized control midway through the opening half. L. J. Cason's free throws with 12: 50 remaining in the first half put Michigan ahead and sparked a 16-0 run that effectively quieted the Mackey crowd and put the Boilermakers on their heels. The Wolverines never trailed after that stretch.
The difference for Michigan this season has often been its size, and 7-foot-3 Aday Mara was a force in the paint early. In just 13 first-half minutes he compiled 10 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks before foul trouble limited his second-half minutes. One sequence midway through the first half illustrated his influence: a rim protection stop, an assist to Roddy Gayle Jr., an altered shot at the rim and a tipped offensive rebound that led to a Cason 3-pointer.
Michigan also dug deep from long range, knocking down 13 of 23 3-pointers. After missing their first four attempts from beyond the arc, they finished the half by hitting eight of 12, giving them a comfortable cushion. Elliot Cadeau paced the backcourt with 17 points, seven assists and four rebounds, making key interior reads when opponents sent help to the paint.
Coach Dusty May praised his team's ability to respond throughout the game, noting that Michigan had to deliver multiple sequences of strong play to withstand Purdue's runs and the energy of the home crowd.
Purdue fights back but falls short
Purdue mounted a second-half push but could not erase the first-half deficit. Trey Kaufman-Renn finished with a team-high 27 points and 12 rebounds, leading a Purdue offense that fought to find consistency against Michigan's length. Braden Smith, scoreless in the first half, surged in the second with 20 points, but the Boilermakers were unable to string together enough stops to make a sustained comeback.
The Wolverines dominated the offensive glass early, outscoring Purdue 14-4 on second-chance points in the first half, and forced enough misses around the rim to keep Purdue from mounting a prolonged run. Purdue managed to keep turnovers down in the opening half, but missed several close looks that, had they fallen, might have made the second half more competitive.
Despite the loss, Purdue remains in position to shape its postseason seeding, but this result makes a conference title run unlikely. The loss also underscored the challenges of containing Michigan's combination of size and perimeter shooting on a single night.
Implications and what's next
The win improved Michigan's league mark and extended its momentum as it prepares for another marquee matchup later in the week. The performance reinforced why the Wolverines are viewed as a complete team: a rim presence capable of creating offense inside, perimeter shooting to stretch defenses and depth that allows quick adjustments when foul trouble strikes.
For Purdue, the focus will turn to tightening interior defense, converting more close-range opportunities and finding earlier answers to opponent runs. The Boilermakers showed resiliency in the second half but left West Lafayette needing more consistent two-way play to challenge the conference leaders moving forward.
Tipoff for the Michigan trip to Purdue was scheduled for 6: 30 p. m. ET on Tuesday, Feb. 17, and the Wolverines walked out of Mackey Arena with a 91-80 victory that reaffirmed their place atop the rankings.
