Michigan, down multiple starters, falls to Cincinnati in exhibition

To open the 2025-26 basketball season, Dusty May and the Michigan Wolverines welcomed the Cincinnati Bearcats to Crisler Center for an exhibition bout on Friday night. The Wolverines begin the season ranked No. 7 in the preseason AP Poll, while the Bearcats open the year unranked.

[Sign up for Maize & Blue Review for $1 and get PLUS access for 7 days!]

But in the first action for the 2025-26 Michigan basketball team, the Wolverines came up short. Cincinnati got the better of May’s squad in Ann Arbor by a final score of 100-98.

First half

In the first half, the teams played as though the preseason rankings were flipped. Cincinnati routed Michigan in the opening frame, establishing an 18-point cushion by halftime. The Wolverines were without presumed starters Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara, but Friday night’s first half was underwhelming, nonetheless.

Roddy Gayle Jr. opened the scoring for the Wolverines with five consecutive points. Elliot Cadeau and Yaxel Lendeborg each added five points of their own by the under-12 media timeout, but those were the only three Wolverines in the scoring column by that point in the game.

Oscar Goodman made a layup with 10:52 remaining in the first half, but the Wolverines went more than eight minutes without a field goal from that moment on. Goodman’s layup gave Michigan a 17-14 lead, but by the time the Wolverines made their next field goal, the Bearcats held a commanding 41-27 advantage.

During the 27-10 run by Cincinnati, Michigan committed numerous turnovers, failing to shake a bad habit that plagued the team last season. Of course, this is a small sample size during a game that means nothing in the grand scheme of things, but 14 first-half turnovers in any game is nothing to be excited about.

In the first half, starters Cadeau, Gayle Jr., Lendeborg, Nimari Burnett and Will Tschetter all played double-digit minutes, while freshmen Trey McKenney, Ricky Liburd, Goodman (redshirt), Winters Grady and Malick Kordel all played, as well.

By the end of the first half, Cincinnati held a decisive 52-34 advantage over the Wolverines.

Second half

The second half was the Yaxel Lendeborg show for Michigan. As the top-ranked player coming out of the Transfer Portal, Lendeborg, a UAB transfer, put on a show and gave Michigan fans something to cheer for.

Lendeborg proved why he was the most sought after player in the Transfer Portal. When Michigan was in desperate need of offense, the 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward followed through. Lendeborg scored 16 of Michigan’s first 20 points in the second half, and he quickly brought the Wolverines right back within striking distance.

By the under-12 media timeout, Michigan had cut the halftime deficit in half, trailing by only nine points. Coming out of the break, Gayle Jr. knocked down a pair of free throws, and Will Tschetter drilled 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to bring the Wolverines within five.

Michigan clawed its way to a two-point deficit with 4:23 remaining in the contest, but it was never able to tie or take the lead in the second half as Cincinnati pulled away late.

Takeaway

If there’s anything to take away from an October exhibition against an unranked team in front of a half-filled Crisler Center, it’s that Yaxel Lendeborg is as advertised. The preseason All-Big Ten First-Teamer finished the game with 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting. He also had 12 rebounds and two steals in 30 minutes of game action.

Lendeborg will, in all likelihood, be the go-to scorer for Michigan when the Wolverines need a bucket. Gayle Jr., Cadeau, and Tschetter were all solid on Friday night, and Burnett will make his presence known, too, but Lendeborg is the most talented player on the roster, and he should be treated as such in the crunch time.

The Wolverines will head to the Big Apple to take on St. John’s in the second and final exhibition before the season-opener at home against Oakland on Nov. 3.

Maize & Blue Review is a trusted source for fans and followers of Michigan Wolverines athletics. Dedicated to providing in-depth coverage, expert analysis, and up-to-date news, it serves as a comprehensive platform for everything related to Michigan sports. Whether you’re interested in football, basketball, or recruiting news, Maize & Blue Review offers insightful articles that keep fans informed and engaged.

The site also features interviews, opinion pieces, and multimedia content, making it a one-stop shop for true Wolverine enthusiasts.

For those wanting to stay even closer, consider subscribing here. Connect with us on social media: X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Whether casual reader or dedicated fan, Maize & Blue Review is the essential resource to stay connected with Michigan Wolverines athletics.