U-M Opens European Tour with Valuable Test vs. Veteran Lithuania Squad
8/23/2026 4:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
» Michigan led by as many as 14 points and carried a 56-44 advantage into halftime before Lithuania outscored the Wolverines 52-28 in the second half to win 96-84.
» Quinn Costello led Michigan with 17 points, knocking down five three-pointers off the bench.
» Trey McKenney added 15 points, while Brandon McCoy Jr. finished with 14 points, five rebounds and four steals.
» U-M recorded 21 assists and 13 steals, with Elliot Cadeau handing out a team-high seven assists and Oscar Goodman collecting four steals.
VILNIUS, Lithuania -- The University of Michigan men's basketball team built a 14-point lead and carried a 12-point advantage into halftime before Lithuania's Veteran National Team rallied in the second half to defeat the Wolverines 96-84 on Sunday (Aug. 23) at Arena Vilnius.
Quinn Costello led Michigan with 17 points after knocking down five three-pointers. Trey McKenney added 15 points, while Brandon McCoy Jr. finished with 14 points, five rebounds and four steals. Elliot Cadeau handed out a team-high seven assists, and Oscar Goodman contributed nine points, a team-best six rebounds and four steals. U-M totaled 21 assists and 13 steals.
Facing a Lithuanian roster averaging nearly 28 years old -- roughly seven years older than Michigan's roster -- the Wolverines showed little hesitation early. U-M led 24-19 after the opening quarter before scoring 32 points in the second to take a 56-44 advantage into halftime.
Michigan pushed its lead to nine early in the second quarter before Lithuania answered with an 8-1 run to pull even at 33 with 6:35 remaining. The Wolverines responded immediately.
Marcus Møller buried a three-pointer on Michigan's next possession, sending the Wolverines on a 23-11 run to close the half. McCoy and Costello provided much of the late push, combining for 16 points during the stretch, with Costello knocking down a pair of three-pointers.
Eight Wolverines scored during the opening half as U-M recorded 11 assists on 20 made field goals. Michigan's defense also created problems, generating eight steals over the first 20 minutes.
The Wolverines extended their lead early in the third quarter when Goodman connected from deep while being fouled and completed the four-point play, giving Michigan its largest advantage of the night at 62-48.
Lithuania responded by cutting into the lead, and used its size and experience to outscore Michigan 27-9 over the remainder of the quarter. Lithuania pulled even at 69 with 2:29 remaining before McCoy briefly put the Wolverines back in front with an alley-oop dunk. The hosts responded with the final six points of the period, capped by a three-pointer, to take their first lead since the opening minutes and a 75-71 advantage into the fourth.
Michigan made one more push. Costello opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, and McKenney later connected from deep before making two free throws to bring the Wolverines within 81-79 with 6:51 remaining.
Lithuania answered with the decisive stretch, scoring on consecutive possessions to begin a 15-0 run as Michigan committed six turnovers along the way. A pair of three-pointers pushed the hosts' lead to 96-79 with 1:28 remaining. McCoy ended U-M's drought with two free throws, and Costello connected on his fifth three-pointer in the closing seconds to produce the final margin.
Michigan will continue its summer tour Monday (Aug. 24), facing the Lithuania B Team at 6:30 p.m. local time (11:30 a.m. ET) in Utena.
