Michigan Beats Alabama 90-77, Reaches Elite Eight Showdown
March Madness took a nail-biting turn as the Windy City hosted the high-stakes 2026 NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional semifinals on Friday night. The clash at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, was nothing short of electrifying as the No. 1 seed Michigan Wolverines outpaced the No. 4 seed Alabama Crimson Tide in the second-half performance with a 90-77 victory, securing the coveted spot in the Elite Eight.
Returning to the same venue after facing a defeat to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament championship game two weeks before, Michigan was all set to outshine the hot-shooters and to claim the win. By bagging its first Elite Eight berth in five years and setting a new program record with its 34th win of the season, the triumph turned out to be much sweeter.
Despite a legendary 35-point performance from Alabama’s Labaron Philon Jr., the Crimson Tide could not overcome the depth and dominance displayed by Michigan. Following a two-point halftime shortage, the Wolverines turned the entire tide during the second-half with a two-digit victory, putting an end to the season for Alabama.
Game Recap: A Tale of Two Halves in Chicago
This high-octane college basketball matchup exhibited a sharp contrast between its first and second halves.
The first half was a masterclass in modern basketball, with two of the most powerful teams relentlessly showcasing their mastery and strength. Alabama, true to its identity as the nation’s highest-scoring offense, utilized a fast-paced, three-point-heavy offense in the first 20 minutes, shooting 9-of-24 (37.5%) from beyond the arc, to take the lead. It is led by a strong individual performance from Philon Jr., who won 22 points before the break, giving the Crimson Tide a 49-47 lead at halftime.
However, the second half witnessed a heavy comeback from Michigan, taking over the game under the lead of Yaxel Lendeborg, the Big Ten Player of the Year. The second half belonged to him as he dominated the battle with a dazzling score of 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists, facilitating offense.
A key turning point occurred at the 17:04 mark in the second half, when Lendeborg intercepted a baseline pass, forcing a turnover and assisting Nimari Burnett for a dunk, starting an 8-0 Run for Michigan. Meanwhile, the deciding factor was the performance of the Michigan bench, featuring Trey McKenny (17 points) and Roddy Gayle Jr. (16 points), which outscored Alabama’s bench (33-6).
Alabama’s Season Ends with Record-Breaking Run
Although the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, the 2025-26 season remains historic for the Crimson Tide, as Alabama finished the season with a 25-10 record. This marks their fourth consecutive season with two significant school records of at least 25 wins and four straight Sweet 16 appearances.
For this tournament, Alabama suffered the absence of the star guard Aden Holloway, who was suspended indefinitely following an arrest on March 16 and missed his third-straight tournament game. His position was covered by Philon Jr, who effectively carried the team’s offensive load as the rest of the roster struggled, tying his career-high with 35 points amid the speculations that this could be his final game before the NBA draft.
After the game, coach Nate Oats praised the team for its resilience but also noted his disappointment regarding how the victory slipped away from them in the second half.
Looking Ahead: Michigan vs. Tennessee in the Elite Eight
The journey of the Michigan Wolverines continues, as this Sunday, the team will be appearing in the final match in Chicago for the Midwest Regional, against the No. 6 seed Tennessee Volunteers, who won on Friday night with a compelling 76-62 triumph over No. 2 Iowa State.
In this showdown, the Windy City will be witnessing a mighty face-off between Michigan’s record-breaking offense and the Tennessee squad, which is making its third consecutive Elite Eight appearance under Rick Barnes.
