02/27/26 10:23:00
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02/27 22:22 CST No. 3 Michigan claims Big Ten regular-season title with an
84-70 win over No. 10 Illinois
No. 3 Michigan claims Big Ten regular-season title with an 84-70 win over No.
10 Illinois
By STEVE STEIN
Associated Press
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) --- Morez Johnson Jr. had 19 points and 11 rebounds
against his former team as No. 3 Michigan defeated No. 10 Illinois 84-70 on
Friday night and clinched the Big Ten regular-season title.
Johnson, who played for the Illini last season after verbally committing three
years earlier, was booed throughout the game by Illinois fans.
Aday Mara had 19 points on 8-for-9 shooting and Yaxel Lendeberg finished with
16 points and seven rebounds for the Wolverines (27-2, 17-1), who are 10-0 on
the road and have won 23 games by 10 or more points.
The Wolverines won their first outright conference regular-season title since
2014, when they also clinched with a win at Illinois.
Michigan's 17 conference victories are the most in school history.
Keaton Wagler scored 23 points for the Illini (22-7, 13-5), who have lost four
of six, including three in overtime. Wagler scored in double figures for the
21st straight game.
Kylan Boswell scored 15 points and David Mirkovic had 12 points and 10 rebounds
for the Illini, who entered the game as the Big Ten's top 3-point shooting
team. Illinois was just 9 of 29 from distance against Michigan.
Michigan led 38-31 at halftime behind Johnson's 13 points.
Down 16-11 after a four-point play by Wagler, the Wolverines responded with an
11-point run capped by a 3 by Johnson and never trailed again. They led by as
many as 21 points in the second half.
Michigan's win snapped a nine-game losing streak against Illinois that began in
2019. The Wolverines had dropped four in a row to the Illini at the State Farm
Center.
Up next
Michigan: At Iowa on Thursday.
Illinois: Host Oregon on Tuesday.
___
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