In a significant development at the Midwest Region semifinal in Chicago, Yaxel Lendeborg delivered an impressive performance to lead the top-seeded Michigan Wolverines to a 90-77 victory over the fourth-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide on Friday. Lendeborg scored 23 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished out seven assists, playing a pivotal role in Michigan’s comeback.
After trailing by nine points early in the game, the Wolverines surged ahead with a dominant 43-28 run in the second half. Their success was fueled by a combination of strategic, high-IQ plays and effective long-range shooting. Lendeborg noted that once the team slowed the pace, increased physicality, and controlled the paint, their performance improved markedly.
His alertness on both offense and defense was crucial, including a key fastbreak assist to Nimari Burnett that sparked an 18-6 run early in the second half, setting the tone for the rest of the contest. Supporting Lendeborg, Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney each contributed 17 points, while Roddy Gayle Jr. added 16, showcasing Michigan’s balanced offensive effort.
Despite Alabama’s Labaron Philon Jr. leading all scorers with 35 points and making six three-pointers, the Crimson Tide struggled to match Michigan’s shooting efficiency. Michigan converted 48.1% of their three-point attempts compared to Alabama’s 29.8%, which proved decisive in the outcome.
With this win, Michigan improves to 34-3 on the season and advances to the Elite Eight, where they will face the winner of the upcoming regional semifinal between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Tennessee Volunteers. This marks Michigan’s first appearance in the regional final since 2021.
