Michigan takes care of business in easy win over La Salle

James Hawkins, The Detroit News on Dec 21, 2025

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan coach Dusty May was wary about this stretch of the schedule.

With final exams in the rearview mirror and Christmas break on the horizon, it’s a time of the year that seems to be ripe for upsets. Teams that try to coast into the holidays and have wandering minds can get caught slipping by lesser competition.

The No. 2 Michigan Wolverines eased May’s concerns with a big run in both halves and took care of business with a 102-50 win over La Salle Sunday at Crisler Center.

Elliot Cadeau had 14 points and Aday Mara had 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead five double-digit scorers for Michigan (11-0, 2-0 Big Ten), which shot 54.8% from the field and broke the century mark for the fifth time in six games.

After taking control with a 22-2 flurry and building a 21-point halftime lead, the Wolverines didn’t let off the gas and kept humming along on both ends.

Yaxel Lendeborg corralled a long rebound, got out in transition and connected with Mara on an alley-oop dunk. A few possessions later, Roddy Gayle Jr. blocked a shot and threw an outlet pass to Lendeborg that ended with another fast-break slam.

During another sequence, Gayle buried a 3-pointer and swatted a layup attempt from behind off the glass. A string of 12 unanswered points during which Michigan held La Salle scoreless for over five minutes made it 70-37.

That was the start of another big run, this time a 21-4 flurry that spanned eight minutes. By the time Mara ended it with a blocked shot on one end and a layup on the other, the Wolverines pulled ahead, 79-41, with 10:11 to play.

Michigan’s lead never dipped below 36 the rest of the way and ballooned to as much as 56 points. The Wolverines rattled off a 23-3 run over the final 9:33 that was punctuated by Howard Eisley Jr.’s first college points — a 3-pointer — with 1:28 remaining.

Trey McKenney scored 17 and L.J. Cason 13 to lead Michigan’s 52-point bench effort. The two also combined to make six of Michigan’s 14 3-pointers.

Jaeden Marshall scored 15 for La Salle (4-9). The Explorers shot 27.9% from the field, finished 2 for 21 from deep and had 19 turnovers that led to 28 Michigan points.

Michigan, compared to its recent performances, got off to a sluggish start. After trading the lead a few times in the opening six minutes, the Wolverines cranked up the defense, began mixing in a full-court press and started to generate turnovers in bunches during a 22-2 run that lasted nearly six minutes.

Cason had a steal on one end and a deep 3-pointer on the other. A steal by Mara under the basket led to two free throws for Gayle. McKenney followed a pair of La Salle turnovers with two 3-pointers that capped a string of 11 unanswered points and gave Michigan a 20-10 lead at the 12:22 mark.

The Wolverines kept turning defense into offense to fuel the flurry. Morez Johnson Jr. (10 points) and Lendeborg doubled Marshall in the corner and forced a turnover. On the next possession, Mara scored on an and-1 finish at the rim. Johnson deflected and stole a pass while pressing that led to a fast-break layup for Lendeborg. When the dust settled, Michigan pulled ahead, 31-12 with 8:33 left in the half.

La Salle trimmed the deficit to 12 before Michigan ripped off another spurt and used the deep ball to widen the margin. McKenney and Will Tschetter each canned a 3-pointer during a 9-0 burst. Cason added another 3 in the final minute that made it a 22-point game.

By the time halftime arrived, the Wolverines made nine of their final 11 shots, drained nine 3s and drew 17 fouls en route to a 54-33 lead at the break.

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