Homefield — March Madness

HowardNo. 16

MichiganNo. 1

FinalCBS

101

43.5%

48.3%

3PT

REB

AST

67.3%

45.8%

3PT

REB

AST

1-seeds are 158-2 all-time vs 16-seeds. UMBC (2018) and FDU (2023) are the only Cinderellas to pull it off.

Michigan's Size Suffocates Howard in the Second Half

Michigan dispatched Howard 101-80, turning a four-point halftime lead into a 21-point blowout on the back of a 67.3% shooting night that Howard had no structural answer for.

Morez Johnson Jr. was the clearest mismatch on the floor, finishing 8-of-8 from the field with 21 points and 10 rebounds in just 26 minutes. Howard never found a body that could contest him at the rim without giving up position, and he did not need to create a shot from scratch all night.

Aday Mara gave Michigan a second unanswerable interior problem, posting 19 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks in 21 minutes on 8-of-10 shooting. His ability to pass out of the high post forced Howard's defense to guard multiple actions simultaneously, and it rarely could.

The game broke open in the second half because Michigan's shot quality never declined while Howard's did. The Bison shot 48.3% from three on the night and still lost by 21, because Michigan's 67.3% field goal percentage on 55 attempts generated a volume advantage Howard's offense could not match. Michigan also blocked 7 shots to Howard's none, and the Bison's 7 offensive rebounds produced nothing useful against a defense that controlled every second possession.

Game Story

The Michigan Wolverines rolled to a dominant 101-80 victory over the Howard Bison.•Morez Johnson Jr. notched a double-double, posting 21 points and 10 rebounds.•Cam Gillus countered with 21 points for the Bison.•Michigan blew the game open with a 51-34 2nd half.•Michigan was far more efficient, shooting 67.3% compared to just 43.5% for Howard.•The Bison were hot from deep, draining 14 three-pointers at 48.3%.•Michigan moved the ball beautifully with 27 assists.•Michigan owned the glass, out-rebounding Howard 35-23.•Michigan's bench outscored Howard's 41-7.•Bryce Harris also contributed 21 points.•The Michigan Wolverines rolled to a dominant 101-80 victory over the Howard Bison.•Morez Johnson Jr. notched a double-double, posting 21 points and 10 rebounds.•Cam Gillus countered with 21 points for the Bison.•Michigan blew the game open with a 51-34 2nd half.•Michigan was far more efficient, shooting 67.3% compared to just 43.5% for Howard.•The Bison were hot from deep, draining 14 three-pointers at 48.3%.•Michigan moved the ball beautifully with 27 assists.•Michigan owned the glass, out-rebounding Howard 35-23.•Michigan's bench outscored Howard's 41-7.•Bryce Harris also contributed 21 points.•