Six players scored in double figures and No. 7 Michigan held San Diego State to 27.4 percent shooting from the field in a 94-54 blowout victory Monday night in the first round of the Players Era men’s championship in Las Vegas.
Yexel Lendeborg scored 15 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists for the Wolverines (5-0), while Morez Johnson Jr. and Elliot Cadeau each added 13 points. Nimari Burnett and reserve Roddy Gayle scored 11 points each and Will Tschetter came off the bench to contribute 10.
The size and quality of Michigan’s shots were simply too much for the Aztecs (2-2). The Wolverines connected on 50% from the field, including 11 of 33 from 3-point range, and also dominated the glass 49-34. They had advantages of 38-12 in points in the paint and 28-13 in points off turnovers.
Elzie Harrington scored 15 points and BJ Davis added 11, but the Aztecs just didn’t have enough help. They fought their way back on a 5-of-28 shooting performance from the field in the second half and committed 17 turnovers on the night.
Michigan wasted no time putting the game away after halftime. He scored the first eight points and kept going, leading by 42 in the final 90 seconds.
The main storyline before tipoff was how the big, strong Wolverines would handle the Aztecs’ long, sticky defense. But as the game progressed, it became clear that the deciding factor would be Michigan’s defense stifling San Diego State’s offense.
The Wolverines scored 12 straight points, taking a 17-7 advantage at 14:10 after Tschetter scored consecutive 3-pointers. The lead remained in double digits for most of the rest of the game, although the Aztecs managed to dig into a 17-point deficit later in the half.
Davis and Harrington combined for 15 straight points to help San Diego State get within nine on three occasions, but Burnett made a 3-pointer with 1:05 left, allowing Michigan to head into halftime with a 45-33 advantage.
–Field level media
