Michigan
Wake Forest
Michigan to Meet Wake Forest Under the LCA Lights
11/9/2025 4:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The seventh-ranked University of Michigan men's basketball team (1-0) heads to downtown Detroit and Little Caesars Arena to host Wake Forest (2-0) in the Wolverine-Deacon Challenge on Tuesday (Nov. 11). In a return matchup, the Wolverines will look to avenge last year's 72-70 loss to the Demon Deacons in Greensboro. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m., with FS1 providing coverage featuring Jason Benetti (play-by-play) and Bill Raftery (analyst).
Notes
• Michigan heads to Little Caesars Arena -- home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons and NHL's Detroit Red Wings -- for its return game with Wake Forest in the Wolverine-Deacon Challenge. The Wolverines are 3-0 all-time at LCA since the venue opened in 2017, with wins over Detroit Mercy (90-58, Dec. 16, 2017), Eastern Michigan (88-83, Nov. 11, 2022), and Oakland (92-48, Oct. 20, 2024).
• In last year's first-ever meeting, Michigan led by as many as 12 points and held a 38-35 halftime advantage following a Tre Donaldson half-court heave. The second half featured seven lead changes before a late turnover led to a Wake Forest transition dunk that sealed a 72-70 Deacons win. U-M was scoreless from the field over the final 3:48. Roddy Gayle Jr. led U-M with 11 points, while Donaldson added 10 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Hunter Sallis paced Wake with 18 points and four rebounds.
• Wake Forest opened the season with an 88-74 victory over American (Nov. 3). The Deacons tallied 20 assists on 31 field goals and recorded 16 steals, turning those into 32 points off turnovers. Tre'Von Spillers and Mekhi Mason led the way with 20 points apiece, with Mason adding a team-high 10 rebounds for a double-double. Nate Calmese directed the attack with nine assists and five steals.
• The Deacons followed with an 81-65 win over Morehead State (Nov. 7), moving to 2-0. Juke Harris erupted for career highs of 29 points and nine rebounds, while Spillers added another double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds). Sebastian Akins contributed 15 points, seven boards, and five assists off the bench, as Wake dominated the glass with 53 rebounds -- including 23 offensive boards.
• Michigan erupted for 121 points against Oakland, a program record for a season opener and its ninth 100-point debut. The Wolverines' 69 first-half points set another program mark, while 19 made three-pointers tied the school record. U-M also dished out 31 assists -- the most since the 2025 Big Ten Tournament -- led by Elliot Cadeau's career-high 14.
• In his collegiate debut, Trey McKenney connected on six three-pointers en route to 21 points, adding four assists and two rebounds. He became the first Wolverine freshman since Jett Howard (2022) to score 20+ in his debut and the first since Tre Donaldson (at UCLA, Jan. 7, 2025) to make six threes. His performance marked the 38th time in program history a Wolverine has hit six or more triples in a game.
• In his Michigan debut, Morez Johnson Jr. poured in a career-best 24 points on 10-for-11 shooting, including three dunks in just 20 minutes. It was his second career 20-point outing, joining his 20-point, 11-rebound performance at Illinois against Penn State (Jan. 8, 2025).
• Aday Mara recorded a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double in his Wolverine debut and matched his career high with five blocks. The 12 boards set a new personal best, marking his third career double-double and fourth game with five blocks, underscoring his immediate two-way impact.
• Yaxel Lendeborg has scored in double figures in 23 consecutive games and is six rebounds shy of 800 for his Division I career. Elliot Cadeau needs five assists to reach 400 for his career and is expected to play in his 76th consecutive game. Nimari Burnett is expected to make his 70th straight start for Michigan, having not missed a game in three seasons.
