Michigan
8-0,1-0Big Ten
Rutgers
5-5,0-2Big Ten
Wolverines Rout Scarlet Knights in Big Ten Opener
12/6/2025 7:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Quinn Schmidt
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Morez Johnson Jr.'s second outing this season of 20 points or more led the third-ranked University of Michigan men's basketball team to a dominant 101-60 win over Rutgers on Saturday (Dec. 6) afternoon at a sold-out Crisler Center. The win was U-M's third-consecutive 100-point outing which featured six or more double-digit scorers for the third straight game.
Leaders and Best
Johnson splashed a career-high two three-pointers on his way to a 22-point performance. Yaxel Lendeborg stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while L.J. Cason scored all of his season-high 11 points in the second half.
Roddy Gayle Jr. added his 25th career game in maize and blue with 10+ points, finishing with 11, and Elliot Cadeau contributed 11 points and nine assists. Trey McKenney paced the Michigan bench unit with 13 points.
Second Half
Michigan (8-0, 1-0 Big Ten) padded its 25-point halftime lead by sinking seven of its first 10 three-pointers coming out of the break. Cason led the way, connecting on all three of his triples and a fast-break layup.
U-M's bench outpaced Rutgers (5-5, 0-2 Big Ten) down the stretch, pouring in 32 second-half points. Winters Grady was perfect from deep, adding a career-high six points, while Oscar Goodman dished out a personal-best two assists with three rebounds and two points in just eight minutes of action.
First Half
U-M's size overwhelmed Rutgers early as the Wolverines amassed 34 points down low in the first half. A three from Nimari Burnett 12 minutes into the game served as Michigan's first basket that was not scored in the paint or at the free-throw line.
Johnson's first career three coupled with a Lendeborg long ball asserted a 20-point advantage at 4:51. The Wolverines then rode a 19-6 run into the locker room, shooting 58 percent from the field through the first 20 minutes.
Rutgers was held to just 25 points by the swarming Wolverines defense, the fewest points by a U-M opponent in a half this season, shooting just 20 percent from three and turning the ball over 10 times.
What's Next
U-M remains at Crisler Center, hosting Villanova at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday (Dec. 9). The matchup will be broadcast live on FS1.
Notes
• Michigan moved to 64-45 all-time, including a 37-21 record at home, in Big Ten openers and has now won 11 of its last 13.
• The last time Michigan scored 100 points against a Big Ten opponent at home was exactly six years ago, on Dec. 6, 2019, in a 103-91 win over Iowa.
• The 41-point win is the fourth-largest margin of victory against a Big Ten team in program history. It is also the second-largest win against a conference foe at home.
• U-M's 52 points in the paint are a new season high.
• Johnson and Lendeborg have now totaled double digits in seven of eight games this season.
