Michigan
Cincinnati (ex)
Michigan's Second-Half Comeback Falls Short in Exhibition Loss to Cincinnati
10/17/2025 9:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Lily Zirin
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Despite outscoring Cincinnati 64-48 in the second half, the University of Michigan men's basketball team was unable to overcome its halftime deficit and fell 100-98 to Cincinnati in an exhibition game on Friday night (Oct. 17) at Crisler Center.
Leaders and Best
Four Wolverines scored in double figures, led by a 31-point, 12-rebound performance from Yaxel Lendeborg. Roddy Gayle Jr. scored 18 points, while Will Tschetter added 15 points and Elliot Cadeau added 14 points.
Second Half
To start off the half for Michigan, Lendeborg hit a three-pointer, followed soon after by back-to-back three-point plays, cutting the deficit to 11, 57-46, three minutes in. The Wolverines brought the score within 10 four times, but the Bearcats always had an answer, shooting 55.8 percent halfway through the second half. Gayle brought the score within seven points (69-62), putting up five consecutive points.
Gaining some momentum with 10:41 left in the game, Tschetter buried back-to-back threes to pull the Wolverines within five of the Bearcats, 73-68. Michigan and Cincinnati went back and forth, both making three straight field goals with the Bearcats still in the lead.
With four minutes left in regulation, Michigan made six of its last eight field goals, shortening the Bearcat lead to only two points (86-84). Trailing by five with 25 seconds left in the game, Tschetter scored the final points of the night with a three-point shot, bringing the score to 100-98.
First Half
After Cincinnati jumped out to an early lead to start the game, Gayle scored on back-to-back possessions with a three-pointer and a layup to put up the Wolverines' first points. Seven minutes into the game, Cincinnati went on a three-minute scoring drought and went nearly five minutes without making a field goal. Michigan's response was an alley-oop dunk by Lendeborg to put the Wolverines up 15-11.
Cincinnati gained momentum and went on a 7-0 run, leading by four (21-17) with under eight minutes left in the half. Trey McKenney ended Michigan's scoring drought of three minutes, making one of three free throws, and Nimari Burnett ended the Wolverines' eight-minute field-goal drought with a layup to cut the U-M deficit to 43-27.
To close out the half, the Wolverines shot 82 percent at the free-throw line and 35 percent from the field. The teams went into the locker room with the Bearcats ahead 52-34 at halftime.
What's Next
Michigan will travel to New York City to play St. John's next Saturday (Oct. 25). Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on B1G+.
