Cason leads No. 2 Michigan to 74-72 win over Penn State
AP
Jan 06, 2026
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) L.J. Cason scored 14 points and No. 2 Michigan Wolverines held on to beat Penn State Nittany Lions 74-72 on Tuesday night.
Nimari Burnett and Trey McKenney had 12 points each and Yaxel Lendeborg added 10 for the Wolverines (14-0, 4-0 Big Ten), off to their best start since opening the 2018-19 season 17-0.
Michigan, which led by 15 with 10:41 left, had to survive a late Penn State push that fell short when Freddie Dilione’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the rim.
Playing in the Bryce Jordan Center for the first time in nearly three years, the Wolverines got an opening layup from Lendeborg, one of just three makes for Michigan in the first four minutes.
Meanwhile, Penn State (9-6, 0-4) had to play without leading scorer Kayden Mingo who suffered an undisclosed injury in practice on Monday. Coach Mike Rhoades said Mingo would be out for a while.
Penn State fed on three turnovers to push its lead to 12-6 with 15:16 to play in the half. Ivan Juric notched nine of the Nittany Lions’ first 12.
Moments later, Lendeborg, who was questionable to play after leaving the team’s last game against USC with a calf injury, sparked an 11-0 Wolverine run.
It coincided with a 1-for-14 shooting stretch from the Nittany Lions.
Elliot Cadeau, McKenney and Cason hit 3-pointers over the final five minutes of the first and the Wolverines pushed their lead to 40-31 at halftime.
McKenney, who was 5 for 7 from the floor, hit back-to-back jumpers including a 3 to give Michigan a 15-point lead.
Juric led the Nittany Lions with 20 points. Before picking up his fourth foul with 5:48 left, Juric hit his second 3-pointer of the game during an 11-0 run that cut Michigan’s lead to three with 7:13 left.
A pair of free throws by Eli Rice free throws cut Michigan’s lead to 73-72 with 1:04 to play.
Dilione finished with 17 points.
Michigan: Hosts Wisconsin on Saturday.
Penn State: Visits No. 5 Purdue on Saturday.
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1st Half
MICH
Wolverines
40
PSU
Nittany Lions
31
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Aday Mara vs. Ivan JuriÄ (Nimari Burnett gains possession)
19:47
+2
Yaxel Lendeborg makes two point layup (Morez Johnson Jr. assists)
2-0
19:18
Aday Mara blocks Ivan JuriÄ's two point layup
19:16
Ivan JuriÄ offensive rebound
19:09
+2
Ivan JuriÄ makes two point layup
2-2
19:01
Aday Mara turnover (lost ball) (Ivan JuriÄ steals)
18:49
+2
Freddie Dilione V makes two point layup
2-4
18:40
Nimari Burnett turnover (bad pass)
18:22
+3
Ivan JuriÄ makes three point jump shot (Freddie Dilione V assists)
2-7
18:08
+2
Nimari Burnett makes two point dunk (Yaxel Lendeborg assists)
4-7
17:57
Dominick Stewart misses three point jump shot
17:55
Wolverines defensive rebound
17:41
Morez Johnson Jr. misses two point layup
17:39
Ivan JuriÄ defensive rebound
17:27
+2
Ivan JuriÄ makes two point layup (Freddie Dilione V assists)
4-9
17:05
+2
Morez Johnson Jr. makes two point layup (Elliot Cadeau assists)
6-9
16:32
Morez Johnson Jr. shooting foul (Ivan JuriÄ draws the foul)
16:31
+1
Ivan JuriÄ makes regular free throw 1 of 2
6-10
16:31
Ivan JuriÄ misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:31
Dominick Stewart offensive rebound
16:22
Freddie Dilione V misses two point jump shot
16:20
Yaxel Lendeborg defensive rebound
16:14
Nimari Burnett misses three point jump shot
16:12
Dominick Stewart defensive rebound
16:07
Tibor MirtiÄ turnover (traveling)
15:48
Roddy Gayle Jr. turnover (bad pass)
15:48
TV timeout
15:37
Dominick Stewart misses three point jump shot
15:35
Mason Blackwood offensive rebound
15:30
Roddy Gayle Jr. blocks Mason Blackwood's two point layup
15:28
Freddie Dilione V offensive rebound
15:16
+2
Ivan JuriÄ makes two point layup
6-12
15:02
+2
Yaxel Lendeborg makes two point layup (Aday Mara assists)
8-12
14:45
Ivan JuriÄ misses three point jump shot
14:45
Wolverines defensive rebound
14:25
L.J. Cason misses two point layup
14:23
Josh Reed defensive rebound
14:08
Josh Reed turnover (lost ball) (Roddy Gayle Jr. steals)
14:03
L.J. Cason turnover (bad pass)
13:33
Freddie Dilione V misses three point jump shot
13:31
Roddy Gayle Jr. defensive rebound
13:25
Roddy Gayle Jr. turnover (Mason Blackwood steals)
13:22
Roddy Gayle Jr. shooting foul (Freddie Dilione V draws the foul)
13:22
Freddie Dilione V misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:22
Freddie Dilione V misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:22
Aday Mara defensive rebound
12:59
Trey McKenney misses three point jump shot
12:57
Freddie Dilione V defensive rebound
12:49
Saša Ciani misses three point jump shot
12:47
L.J. Cason defensive rebound
12:40
+2
Aday Mara makes two point dunk (L.J. Cason assists)
10-12
12:17
Mason Blackwood misses three point jump shot
12:15
Aday Mara defensive rebound
12:11
Mason Blackwood shooting foul (L.J. Cason draws the foul)
12:11
+1
L.J. Cason makes regular free throw 1 of 2
11-12
12:11
+1
L.J. Cason makes regular free throw 2 of 2
12-12
11:55
Eli Rice misses two point jump shot
11:55
Tibor MirtiÄ offensive rebound
11:55
Elliot Cadeau personal foul
11:55
TV timeout
11:47
Aday Mara blocks Tibor MirtiÄ's two point layup
11:45
Elliot Cadeau defensive rebound
11:36
Elliot Cadeau misses two point layup
11:34
Melih Tunca defensive rebound
11:28
Dominick Stewart misses three point jump shot
11:26
Tibor MirtiÄ offensive rebound
11:24
Melih Tunca misses two point jump shot
11:22
Aday Mara defensive rebound
11:17
+3
L.J. Cason makes three point jump shot (Aday Mara assists)
15-12
10:56
Dominick Stewart misses two point jump shot
10:54
Trey McKenney defensive rebound
10:45
Ivan JuriÄ shooting foul (Aday Mara draws the foul)
10:45
+1
Aday Mara makes regular free throw 1 of 2
16-12
10:45
+1
Aday Mara makes regular free throw 2 of 2
17-12
10:35
Ivan JuriÄ misses two point layup
10:33
Morez Johnson Jr. defensive rebound
10:28
Elliot Cadeau misses three point jump shot
10:27
Freddie Dilione V defensive rebound
10:27
L.J. Cason personal foul
10:13
+2
Freddie Dilione V makes two point jump shot
17-14
10:08
+2
L.J. Cason makes two point layup
19-14
10:08
Freddie Dilione V shooting foul (L.J. Cason draws the foul)
10:08
L.J. Cason misses regular free throw 1 of 1
10:08
Dominick Stewart defensive rebound
9:46
Ivan JuriÄ offensive foul
9:46
Ivan JuriÄ turnover (offensive foul)
9:34
Nimari Burnett turnover (bad pass)
9:22
+3
Dominick Stewart makes three point jump shot (Freddie Dilione V assists)
19-17
9:11
Nimari Burnett misses three point jump shot
9:09
Yaxel Lendeborg offensive rebound
9:01
+3
Nimari Burnett makes three point jump shot (Morez Johnson Jr. assists)
22-17
8:36
Freddie Dilione V misses three point jump shot
8:34
Morez Johnson Jr. defensive rebound
8:32
Tibor MirtiÄ personal foul
8:30
Eli Rice blocks Roddy Gayle Jr.'s two point layup
8:28
Saša Ciani defensive rebound
8:11
Saša Ciani misses two point jump shot
8:09
Roddy Gayle Jr. defensive rebound
8:02
+2
Nimari Burnett makes two point layup
24-17
8:01
Nittany Lions 30 second timeout
8:01
TV timeout
7:37
Eli Rice misses three point jump shot
7:35
Wolverines defensive rebound
7:23
Elliot Cadeau misses three point jump shot
7:21
Nittany Lions defensive rebound
7:12
Dominick Stewart misses three point jump shot
7:10
Morez Johnson Jr. defensive rebound
6:58
Roddy Gayle Jr. misses three point jump shot
6:56
Mason Blackwood defensive rebound
6:28
+2
Mason Blackwood makes two point jump shot
24-19
6:28
Josh Reed personal foul
6:14
Aday Mara misses two point jump shot
6:12
Freddie Dilione V defensive rebound
6:03
+2
Freddie Dilione V makes two point layup
24-21
5:44
+3
Elliot Cadeau makes three point jump shot (Yaxel Lendeborg assists)
27-21
5:07
Saša Ciani misses three point jump shot
5:05
Yaxel Lendeborg defensive rebound
4:53
Dominick Stewart personal foul (Morez Johnson Jr. draws the foul)
4:53
+1
Morez Johnson Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
28-21
4:53
Morez Johnson Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:53
Freddie Dilione V defensive rebound
4:46
Freddie Dilione V turnover (traveling)
4:36
+2
L.J. Cason makes two point layup
30-21
4:16
Freddie Dilione V misses two point jump shot
4:14
Josh Reed offensive rebound
4:05
+3
Josh Reed makes three point jump shot
30-24
3:40
+2
Trey McKenney makes two point jump shot
32-24
3:25
Dominick Stewart offensive foul
3:25
Dominick Stewart turnover (offensive foul)
3:25
TV timeout
3:17
+2
L.J. Cason makes two point layup (Aday Mara assists)
34-24
2:44
Aday Mara blocks Freddie Dilione V's three point jump shot
2:42
Trey McKenney defensive rebound
2:35
L.J. Cason misses three point jump shot
2:34
Eli Rice defensive rebound
2:34
Will Tschetter personal foul
2:17
Eli Rice misses three point jump shot
2:15
Josh Reed offensive rebound
2:08
+3
Eli Rice makes three point jump shot (Josh Reed assists)
34-27
1:57
+3
Trey McKenney makes three point jump shot (Aday Mara assists)
37-27
1:35
Will Tschetter personal foul
1:24
Trey McKenney personal foul (Josh Reed draws the foul)
1:24
+1
Josh Reed makes regular free throw 1 of 2
37-28
1:24
+1
Josh Reed makes regular free throw 2 of 2
37-29
1:11
Yaxel Lendeborg misses three point jump shot
1:09
Mason Blackwood defensive rebound
0:47
Aday Mara shooting foul (Saša Ciani draws the foul)
0:47
+1
Saša Ciani makes regular free throw 1 of 2
37-30
0:47
+1
Saša Ciani makes regular free throw 2 of 2
37-31
0:37
+3
L.J. Cason makes three point jump shot (Yaxel Lendeborg assists)
40-31
0:36
Wolverines 30 second timeout
0:09
Freddie Dilione V misses two point layup
0:07
Saša Ciani offensive rebound
0:06
Nittany Lions turnover (shot clock violation)
0:03
Roddy Gayle Jr. misses three point jump shot
0:01
Saša Ciani defensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
MICH
Wolverines
34
PSU
Nittany Lions
41
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:42
+2
Ivan JuriÄ makes two point layup (Dominick Stewart assists)
40-33
19:40
Elliot Cadeau turnover (bad pass) (Freddie Dilione V steals)
19:22
Aday Mara shooting foul (Ivan JuriÄ draws the foul)
19:22
+1
Ivan JuriÄ makes regular free throw 1 of 2
40-34
19:22
Ivan JuriÄ misses regular free throw 2 of 2
19:22
Aday Mara defensive rebound
19:00
Aday Mara misses two point layup
18:58
Yaxel Lendeborg offensive rebound
18:54
Yaxel Lendeborg misses two point layup
18:52
Nittany Lions defensive rebound
18:44
Elliot Cadeau personal foul
18:34
+2
Josh Reed makes two point jump shot
40-36
18:13
Elliot Cadeau misses three point jump shot
18:11
Elliot Cadeau offensive rebound
18:05
+2
Elliot Cadeau makes two point layup
42-36
17:47
Ivan JuriÄ misses three point jump shot
17:45
Nimari Burnett defensive rebound
17:36
Yaxel Lendeborg misses three point jump shot
17:34
Morez Johnson Jr. offensive rebound
17:29
+3
Nimari Burnett makes three point jump shot (Morez Johnson Jr. assists)
45-36
17:11
Ivan JuriÄ misses two point layup
17:09
Aday Mara defensive rebound
17:06
Dominick Stewart personal foul
16:56
Roddy Gayle Jr. misses two point layup
16:54
Josh Reed defensive rebound
16:54
Josh Reed turnover (lost ball) (Roddy Gayle Jr. steals)
16:51
Ivan JuriÄ shooting foul (Roddy Gayle Jr. draws the foul)
16:51
+1
Roddy Gayle Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
46-36
16:51
+1
Roddy Gayle Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
47-36
16:47
Yaxel Lendeborg personal foul
16:30
+2
Saša Ciani makes two point layup (Freddie Dilione V assists)
47-38
16:30
Morez Johnson Jr. shooting foul (Saša Ciani draws the foul)
16:30
+1
Saša Ciani makes regular free throw 1 of 1
47-39
16:17
Roddy Gayle Jr. misses two point layup
16:15
Freddie Dilione V defensive rebound
16:14
Nimari Burnett shooting foul (Freddie Dilione V draws the foul)
16:14
+1
Freddie Dilione V makes regular free throw 1 of 2
47-40
16:14
Freddie Dilione V misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:14
Morez Johnson Jr. defensive rebound
16:06
+2
Nimari Burnett makes two point layup
49-40
15:49
Freddie Dilione V turnover (lost ball) (Elliot Cadeau steals)
15:47
Saša Ciani personal foul
15:47
TV timeout
15:31
+2
Yaxel Lendeborg makes two point layup
51-40
15:19
Melih Tunca misses two point layup
15:17
Morez Johnson Jr. defensive rebound
15:14
Josh Reed shooting foul (Yaxel Lendeborg draws the foul)
15:14
+1
Yaxel Lendeborg makes regular free throw 1 of 2
52-40
15:14
+1
Yaxel Lendeborg makes regular free throw 2 of 2
53-40
15:14
Nittany Lions 30 second timeout
15:14
TV timeout
14:46
+2
Melih Tunca makes two point jump shot (Saša Ciani assists)
53-42
14:38
Yaxel Lendeborg misses three point jump shot
14:36
Melih Tunca defensive rebound
14:27
Melih Tunca misses three point jump shot
14:25
Yaxel Lendeborg defensive rebound
14:21
Roddy Gayle Jr. misses three point jump shot
14:19
Melih Tunca defensive rebound
14:17
Yaxel Lendeborg personal foul
14:02
+2
Freddie Dilione V makes two point jump shot
53-44
13:45
Aday Mara turnover (Freddie Dilione V steals)
13:45
Aday Mara personal foul (Freddie Dilione V draws the foul)
13:45
+1
Freddie Dilione V makes regular free throw 1 of 2
53-45
13:45
+1
Freddie Dilione V makes regular free throw 2 of 2
53-46
13:18
+2
Trey McKenney makes two point layup
55-46
13:07
+2
Eli Rice makes two point layup
55-48
12:44
+3
Roddy Gayle Jr. makes three point jump shot (L.J. Cason assists)
58-48
12:20
Mason Blackwood misses three point jump shot
12:18
L.J. Cason defensive rebound
12:13
Eli Rice personal foul
12:09
+3
Trey McKenney makes three point jump shot (Roddy Gayle Jr. assists)
