Michigan
27-9,14-6Big Ten
Texas A&M
23-11,11-7SEC
Gayle Leads U-M's Second-Half Rally Against Texas A&M; Wolverines off to Sweet 16
3/22/2025 9:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DENVER, Colo. -- Roddy Gayle Jr. scored a season-high 26 points as the 14th-ranked and No. 5-seeded University of Michigan men's basketball team overcame a 10-point second-half deficit to take down No. 19-ranked and No. 4-seeded Texas A&M, 91-79, on Saturday (March 22) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena. The victory sends U-M to its 19th Sweet 16 appearance.
Leaders and Best
Gayle led all scorers with 26 points, going 4-for-6 from three-point range and 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. Vladislav Goldin had a double-double, scoring 23 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and blocking three shots. Danny Wolf had 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks. L.J. Cason added 11 points and three assists.
Turning Point
Starting with a three-pointer from Gayle with 6:41 to go in the second half, Michigan went on a three-minute-long 15-2 run to give Michigan an 81-72 lead with 3:43 to go. After the Aggies cut Michigan's lead to three with 1:20 remaining, Tre Donaldson hit an acrobatic layup as the shot clock expired to stretch Michigan's lead to 84-79. Texas A&M missed a three-pointer on its next possession, and Michigan made seven of its next eight free throws to close out the win.
Second Half
Texas A&M (23-11) took its largest lead, 48-39, before a tap-in from Wolf made it 48-41. Michigan (27-9) began to find its way on offense with Gayle making his second three-point basket, but Texas A&M hit an and-one to regain their 10-point lead with 13:17 to go.
Just as the Aggies extended their lead, Michigan made a charge, going 5-for-5 from the field over a four-minute span. Wolf's and-one ignited the run, and four straight points from Cason brought the Wolverines to within four points, 61-57, with 11:35 remaining.
Both teams traded buckets as the Wolverines crawled back. Gayle scored 10 straight points -- including two triples -- to give Michigan its first lead of the half, 71-70, with 6:08 remaining. Goldin followed it with eight straight points, giving Michigan its largest lead of the day before a Donaldson layup capped off a three-minute, 15-2 run to lead 81-72.
First Half
Michigan grabbed five offensive rebounds in the first six minutes, tying the game at 10 with 14:07 to go. Goldin had five of Michigan's first 10 points before a three-pointer from Cason and back-to-back buckets from Wolf gave Michigan a 17-11 lead with 12:55 to go.
Texas A&M responded with a 12-2 run, taking a 23-19 lead with 8:43 remaining. Rubin Jones grabbed a rebound and took it coast-to-coast to end the Aggies' run, and Goldin added a layup to cut Texas A&M's lead to 25-23. Sixteen of U-M's first 23 points came in the paint, and Goldin and Wolf combined for 14 of them.
After the Aggies scored four points in a row to take a six-point lead, Wolf assisted on two consecutive baskets -- including a three from Jones. The teams went back and forth making baskets, and a three-pointer from Gayle tied the game at 31 with 3:40 to go. Two free throws from Goldin gave Michigan its first lead (35-34) since the 9:35 mark, but the Wolverines missed their last seven shots to close the half, and Texas A&M took a 39-35 lead into the break.
What's Next
With its win, Michigan moves onto the Sweet 16 to take on No. 4-ranked and top-seeded Auburn on Friday (March 28) at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga. Time and network designation are to be announced.
Notes
• In its last six NCAA Tournaments, Michigan has advanced to the Sweet 16 -- 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2025.
• Michigan's wins in the NCAA first round (UC San Diego) and second round (Texas A&M) helped it remain undefeated in the postseason (5-0). U-M won three games in three days for its fourth Big Ten Tournament title.
• Gayle scored a season-best 26 points, his second 20-plus point game this season. He had 20 points in the Fort Myers Tip-Off against Xavier.
• With his 11 points, Cason posted his first double-figure game since Nov. 18, when he had 11 against Miami (Ohio). It marked his fourth double-figure game of the season.
• Goldin recorded his seventh double-double of the season, with 23 points and 12 rebounds. His 23 points marked the 13th game of 20-plus points and helped him to his first 600-point season (605) -- the first Wolverine with 600-plus points since 2022-23 (Hunter Dickinson, 629; 18.5 ppg).
• Wolf's nine rebounds helped him surpass 700 for his career (708). He has 354 rebounds this season, leading the Wolverines and Big Ten with 9.8 per game.
• Donaldson's four assists not only helped him reach 150-plus on the season (151) but helped him surpass 300 (302) for his career. The last Wolverine with 150 assists was Devonte' Jones (2021-22; 151, 4.6 apg).
• With the victory, U-M earned Dusty May his 27th win and became U-M's all-time winningest first-year coach. It is the most wins for the Maize and Blue since John Beilein's 2018-19 squad went 30-7.
• Will Tschetter, Gayle, Rubin Jones, and Cason are playing in their first NCAA Tournament.
