DENVER — Michigan’s basketball team is set to return to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, revitalizing their prospects just a year after enduring a challenging 24-loss season. Behind an impressive performance from Roddy Gayle, the Wolverines overcame a 10-point deficit to secure a 91-79 victory over Texas A&M on Saturday, enabling them to advance to Atlanta where they will face Auburn in the South Region.
Roddy Gayle was instrumental in the Wolverines’ success, scoring 21 of his season-high 26 points in the second half. His efforts fueled Michigan’s comeback and ultimately secured the victory. Outperforming the Aggies at their own game, Michigan showed unexpected prowess in rebounding. Texas A&M, the tournament’s top offensive rebounding team, found themselves bested as Michigan gathered 16 offensive rebounds to Texas A&M’s 15, out-rebounding them overall 48-39.
Michigan’s center, Vladislav Goldin, who transitioned to the Wolverines with coach Dusty May from FAU a year prior, attributed the win to mindset and game adjustment. Goldin himself excelled on the court with 23 points and 12 rebounds to offset the strong opposition from Texas A&M’s Pharrel Payne. Although Payne scored 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting, Michigan’s defensive efforts left him scoreless after putting the Aggies ahead 65-61 with just under 10 minutes remaining.
Pharrel Payne showcased excellent performance during the NCAA games at the Ball Arena, accumulating 51 points on 20-of-25 shooting along with pulling down 15 rebounds. However, on Saturday, he managed only five rebounds, with just a single defensive board. Aggies coach Buzz Williams, working to take a third school to the Sweet 16 after his tenure at Marquette and Virginia Tech, noted that his team fell short in shooting and fouling, diverging significantly from their usual statistical averages.
Michigan’s momentum has been impressive, concluding the Big Ten tournament with a surprising run and now securing five wins in nine days. On the other hand, despite having played only twice in nine days, the Aggies appeared fatigued at the game’s conclusion. They hit a rough patch late, missing eight of their final nine shots as the Wolverines surged forward with a 9-0 closing run after Texas A&M’s Zhuric Phelps’ free throws narrowed the gap to 82-79 with just 1:29 left.
Reflecting on Michigan’s journey, Gayle expressed elation at the team’s progress this season, highlighting the chemistry and timing as they advance. Two years ago, Goldin played a pivotal role in FAU’s Final Four team. With Michigan’s transition under new coach Dusty May, who brought Goldin along to Ann Arbor, the team improved from an 8-24 record during Juwan Howard’s season to finishing second in the Big Ten. The newfound camaraderie has enabled Michigan to achieve significant success this season.
During the game, Wade Taylor IV tried to silence Michigan’s fans after hitting a deep three-pointer, motioning “shhh!” as the Aggies prepared for a timeout. Despite this brief moment of silence from Michigan fans, the Wolverines ultimately subdued the Aggies, outscoring them 25-9 after play resumed. Michigan’s upcoming game in the NCAA Tournament promises further excitement as they prepare to battle Auburn in Atlanta.
