Story byDon DrysdaleSat, January 31, 2026 at 2:22 AM UTC·1 min readMichigan left no doubt in the opening 20 minutes against Michigan State. The Wolverines stormed into halftime with a commanding 42–26 lead, overwhelming the Spartans on both ends of the floor and controlling the tempo from the opening tip. Michigan State transfer Aisea Moa Michigan Dominates Michigan StateMichigan shot 45.5% from the field in the first half and knocked down 5-of-12 from three-point range (41.7%), while Michigan State struggled badly, shooting just 26.9% overall and 2-of-12 from deep (16.7%). The Spartans simply couldn’t keep up with Michigan’s ball movement or perimeter shooting. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementYaxel Lendeborg led the way for Michigan, pouring in 12 points and grabbing 6 rebounds, while Elliott Cadeau and Tre McKenney helped keep the offense flowing with eight points apiece. The Wolverines also did a solid job taking care of the basketball, committing just four turnovers in the half. Defensively, Michigan forced 11 Michigan State turnovers, turning them into easy transition opportunities and quick points.