Morez Johnson Jr. scores career-high 29 points in No. 2 Michigan's 96-66 win over No. 24 USC
AP
Jan 02, 2026
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) Morez Johnson Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including 17 in the first half, and No. 2 Michigan Wolverines beat No. 24 Southern California 96-66 on Friday night.
Roddy Gayle Jr. added 12 points for the Wolverines (13-0, 3-0 Big Ten), and Will Tschetter, Trey McKenney and L.J. Cason each scored 10.
Michigan is off to its best start since it won 17 straight games to start the 2018-19 season.
Jaden Brownell scored 16 points and Erza Ausar added 15 for the Trojans (12-2, 1-2), whose only previous loss was by eight points against Washington on Dec. 6. Chad Baker-Mazara, who came into the game averaging 21 points, was hampered by early foul trouble and finished with 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting.
Michigan starting guard Nimari Burnett was helped from the court with 16:25 left after falling during a battle under the basket. He went down to the floor and appeared to be bleeding above his eyebrow and holding his ankle. He sat on the bench the rest of the night.
The Wolverines bolted out to an 11-0 lead thanks to a defense that forced six early turnovers. USC Trojans got within five points twice in the first half and Michigan responded with a 32-19 run to build a 49-31 halftime advantage.
USC got no closer the rest of the way.
USC: At No. 9 Michigan State on Monday.
Michigan: Visits Penn State on Tuesday.
---
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2026 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
USC
Trojans
31
MICH
Wolverines
49
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Wolverines gains possession)
19:47
Yaxel Lendeborg misses three point jump shot
19:45
Aday Mara offensive rebound
19:42
+2
Aday Mara makes two point layup
0-2
19:28
Ryan Cornish turnover (Aday Mara steals)
19:20
Yaxel Lendeborg misses three point jump shot
19:18
Jacob Cofie defensive rebound
19:02
Chad Baker-Mazara turnover (Aday Mara steals)
18:53
+2
Yaxel Lendeborg makes two point dunk (Aday Mara assists)
0-4
18:43
Gabe Dynes turnover (Nimari Burnett steals)
18:24
Elliot Cadeau turnover
18:10
Chad Baker-Mazara misses three point jump shot
18:10
Jacob Cofie personal foul
18:00
Chad Baker-Mazara blocks Nimari Burnett's three point jump shot
17:58
Trojans defensive rebound
17:51
Jordan Marsh turnover (Aday Mara steals)
17:41
Elliot Cadeau misses two point jump shot
17:39
Jacob Cofie defensive rebound
17:22
Jordan Marsh misses three point jump shot
17:20
Elliot Cadeau defensive rebound
17:11
+2
Morez Johnson Jr. makes two point layup (Yaxel Lendeborg assists)
0-6
16:49
Jacob Cofie misses three point jump shot
16:47
Aday Mara defensive rebound
16:33
Yaxel Lendeborg misses two point layup
16:31
Ezra Ausar defensive rebound
16:20
Chad Baker-Mazara turnover
16:17
Eric Musselman technical foul
16:17
Yaxel Lendeborg misses technical free throw 1 of 2
16:17
+1
Yaxel Lendeborg makes technical free throw 2 of 2
0-7
15:54
Elliot Cadeau misses three point jump shot
15:52
Terrance Williams II defensive rebound
15:47
Ezra Ausar offensive foul
15:47
Ezra Ausar turnover (offensive foul)
15:47
TV timeout
15:29
Jacob Cofie personal foul (Yaxel Lendeborg draws the foul)
15:17
Yaxel Lendeborg misses three point jump shot
15:15
Roddy Gayle Jr. offensive rebound
15:09
Roddy Gayle Jr. offensive foul
15:09
Roddy Gayle Jr. turnover (offensive foul)
14:58
Jordan Marsh misses two point layup
14:56
L.J. Cason defensive rebound
14:49
L.J. Cason turnover (Jordan Marsh steals)
14:38
Terrance Williams II misses two point jump shot
14:36
Jaden Brownell offensive rebound
14:22
Yaxel Lendeborg blocks Chad Baker-Mazara's two point layup
14:20
L.J. Cason defensive rebound
14:13
Terrance Williams II personal foul (Roddy Gayle Jr. draws the foul)
14:12
Chad Baker-Mazara personal foul (Trey McKenney draws the foul)
14:10
Trey McKenney misses three point jump shot
14:08
Yaxel Lendeborg offensive rebound
14:06
+2
Yaxel Lendeborg makes two point layup
0-9
13:42
Trojans 30 second timeout
13:34
Kam Woods misses three point jump shot
13:32
Aday Mara defensive rebound
13:30
Kam Woods shooting foul (Roddy Gayle Jr. draws the foul)
13:30
+1
Roddy Gayle Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
0-10
13:30
+1
Roddy Gayle Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
0-11
13:19
+2
Ezra Ausar makes two point layup
2-11
13:19
Aday Mara shooting foul (Ezra Ausar draws the foul)
13:19
+1
Ezra Ausar makes regular free throw 1 of 1
3-11
12:57
+2
Will Tschetter makes two point layup
3-13
12:41
+3
Chad Baker-Mazara makes three point jump shot
6-13
12:41
L.J. Cason shooting foul (Chad Baker-Mazara draws the foul)
12:41
+1
Chad Baker-Mazara makes regular free throw 1 of 1
7-13
12:29
+2
Roddy Gayle Jr. makes two point dunk (L.J. Cason assists)
7-15
12:08
+3
Chad Baker-Mazara makes three point jump shot
10-15
11:57
L.J. Cason turnover (Kam Woods steals)
11:50
Jaden Brownell misses three point jump shot
11:48
Kam Woods offensive rebound
11:43
Chad Baker-Mazara misses three point jump shot
11:41
Will Tschetter defensive rebound
11:25
Trey McKenney misses three point jump shot
11:23
Terrance Williams II defensive rebound
11:04
Chad Baker-Mazara misses three point jump shot
11:02
Aday Mara defensive rebound
10:54
Trey McKenney turnover (Jaden Brownell steals)
10:47
TV timeout
10:20
Kam Woods misses three point jump shot
10:20
Jump ball. (Trojans gains possession)
10:13
Chad Baker-Mazara misses two point layup
10:11
Elliot Cadeau defensive rebound
10:07
Jump ball. (Wolverines gains possession)
9:53
Will Tschetter misses three point jump shot
9:51
Gabe Dynes defensive rebound
9:44
Gabe Dynes offensive foul
9:44
Gabe Dynes turnover (offensive foul)
9:32
+3
Yaxel Lendeborg makes three point jump shot
10-18
9:07
+2
Ezra Ausar makes two point layup
12-18
8:57
+3
Elliot Cadeau makes three point jump shot
12-21
8:48
Nimari Burnett personal foul
8:35
Kam Woods misses two point jump shot
8:33
Ezra Ausar offensive rebound
8:30
Aday Mara shooting foul (Ezra Ausar draws the foul)
8:30
Ezra Ausar misses regular free throw 1 of 2
8:30
+1
Ezra Ausar makes regular free throw 2 of 2
13-21
8:07
+2
Morez Johnson Jr. makes two point layup
13-23
7:57
Ezra Ausar misses two point jump shot
7:55
Jerry Easter II offensive rebound
7:51
+2
Jerry Easter II makes two point layup
15-23
7:42
TV timeout
7:32
Elliot Cadeau personal foul (Ezra Ausar draws the foul)
7:12
Yaxel Lendeborg blocks Ezra Ausar's two point jump shot
7:10
Yaxel Lendeborg defensive rebound
6:53
+2
Morez Johnson Jr. makes two point layup
15-25
6:37
Roddy Gayle Jr. personal foul (Chad Baker-Mazara draws the foul)
6:37
+1
Chad Baker-Mazara makes regular free throw 1 of 2
16-25
6:37
+1
Chad Baker-Mazara makes regular free throw 2 of 2
17-25
6:19
Jaden Brownell personal foul (Morez Johnson Jr. draws the foul)
6:19
Morez Johnson Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 1
6:19
Terrance Williams II defensive rebound
6:01
Jerry Easter II misses two point jump shot
5:59
Morez Johnson Jr. defensive rebound
5:47
Yaxel Lendeborg misses three point jump shot
5:45
Elliot Cadeau offensive rebound
5:40
Trey McKenney misses three point jump shot
5:38
Yaxel Lendeborg offensive rebound
5:34
Yaxel Lendeborg turnover (bad pass)
5:17
+2
Jerry Easter II makes two point jump shot
19-25
5:06
+2
Morez Johnson Jr. makes two point layup (Elliot Cadeau assists)
19-27
5:06
Terrance Williams II shooting foul (Morez Johnson Jr. draws the foul)
5:06
+1
Morez Johnson Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1
19-28
4:56
+2
Ezra Ausar makes two point dunk (Chad Baker-Mazara assists)
21-28
4:39
Chad Baker-Mazara shooting foul (Morez Johnson Jr. draws the foul)
4:39
+1
Morez Johnson Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
21-29
4:39
+1
Morez Johnson Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
21-30
4:35
Chad Baker-Mazara misses two point jump shot
4:33
L.J. Cason defensive rebound
4:32
Chad Baker-Mazara personal foul (L.J. Cason draws the foul)
4:32
+1
L.J. Cason makes regular free throw 1 of 2
21-31
4:32
+1
L.J. Cason makes regular free throw 2 of 2
21-32
4:22
Jerry Easter II turnover
4:14
L.J. Cason misses two point layup
4:12
Trojans defensive rebound
4:06
Jordan Marsh misses two point layup
4:04
Ezra Ausar offensive rebound
4:04
TV timeout
4:04
Ezra Ausar turnover (lost ball)
3:48
+2
Elliot Cadeau makes two point layup
21-34
3:25
+3
Jaden Brownell makes three point jump shot (Jerry Easter II assists)
24-34
3:09
Jordan Marsh shooting foul (Elliot Cadeau draws the foul)
3:09
Elliot Cadeau misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:09
+1
Elliot Cadeau makes regular free throw 2 of 2
24-35
3:00
Kam Woods misses two point jump shot
2:58
Elliot Cadeau defensive rebound
2:51
+2
L.J. Cason makes two point layup (Elliot Cadeau assists)
24-37
2:32
+2
Terrance Williams II makes two point jump shot
26-37
2:16
+2
Morez Johnson Jr. makes two point layup (Elliot Cadeau assists)
26-39
2:05
Terrance Williams II misses three point jump shot
2:03
Will Tschetter defensive rebound
1:55
Elliot Cadeau misses two point jump shot
1:41
Jerry Easter II turnover (Elliot Cadeau steals)
1:35
+2
Morez Johnson Jr. makes two point dunk (Elliot Cadeau assists)
26-41
1:27
Jordan Marsh turnover (Morez Johnson Jr. steals)
1:23
+2
Morez Johnson Jr. makes two point dunk (Elliot Cadeau assists)
26-43
1:19
Trojans 30 second timeout
1:07
Jaden Brownell misses two point jump shot
1:05
Ezra Ausar offensive rebound
1:03
Ezra Ausar misses two point layup
1:01
Trojans offensive rebound
1:01
Trey McKenney personal foul (Jerry Easter II draws the foul)
1:01
+1
Jerry Easter II makes regular free throw 1 of 2
27-43
1:01
Jerry Easter II misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:01
Jerry Easter II offensive rebound
0:56
+2
Jerry Easter II makes two point layup
29-43
0:46
Elliot Cadeau misses three point jump shot
0:46
Morez Johnson Jr. personal foul (Ezra Ausar draws the foul)
0:46
+1
Ezra Ausar makes regular free throw 1 of 2
30-43
0:46
+1
Ezra Ausar makes regular free throw 2 of 2
31-43
0:46
Ezra Ausar personal foul
0:46
+1
Nimari Burnett makes regular free throw 1 of 2
31-44
0:46
Nimari Burnett misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:41
Nimari Burnett misses three point jump shot
0:39
Wolverines offensive rebound
0:33
Jaden Brownell shooting foul (Will Tschetter draws the foul)
0:33
+1
Will Tschetter makes regular free throw 1 of 3
31-45
0:33
+1
Will Tschetter makes regular free throw 2 of 3
31-46
0:33
+1
Will Tschetter makes regular free throw 3 of 3
31-47
0:13
Chad Baker-Mazara turnover (L.J. Cason steals)
0:09
Chad Baker-Mazara shooting foul (Nimari Burnett draws the foul)
0:09
+1
Nimari Burnett makes regular free throw 1 of 2
31-48
0:09
+1
Nimari Burnett makes regular free throw 2 of 2
31-49
0:02
Jerry Easter II misses three point jump shot
0:02
Trojans offensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
USC
Trojans
35
MICH
Wolverines
47
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:49
Jerry Easter II misses two point jump shot
19:47
Elliot Cadeau defensive rebound
19:42
Yaxel Lendeborg misses three point jump shot
19:40
Ezra Ausar defensive rebound
19:29
Jacob Cofie misses three point jump shot
19:27
Nimari Burnett defensive rebound
19:20
Jerry Easter II personal foul (Morez Johnson Jr. draws the foul)
19:10
Jaden Brownell shooting foul (Morez Johnson Jr. draws the foul)
19:10
+1
Morez Johnson Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
31-50
19:10
+1
Morez Johnson Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
31-51
19:02
Jerry Easter II turnover (lost ball) (Elliot Cadeau steals)
18:57
Nimari Burnett misses three point jump shot
18:55
Morez Johnson Jr. offensive rebound
18:50
Jacob Cofie shooting foul (Morez Johnson Jr. draws the foul)
18:50
+1
Morez Johnson Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
31-52
18:50
+1
Morez Johnson Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
31-53
18:43
Jerry Easter II misses two point jump shot
18:41
Aday Mara defensive rebound
18:25
Morez Johnson Jr. misses three point jump shot
18:23
Nimari Burnett offensive rebound
18:18
Nimari Burnett misses three point jump shot
18:16
Jacob Cofie defensive rebound
18:12
Jaden Brownell misses three point jump shot
18:10
Yaxel Lendeborg defensive rebound
17:51
Morez Johnson Jr. misses two point layup
17:49
Jaden Brownell defensive rebound
17:35
Morez Johnson Jr. shooting foul (Jacob Cofie draws the foul)
17:35
+1
Jacob Cofie makes regular free throw 1 of 2
32-53
17:35
Jacob Cofie misses regular free throw 2 of 2
17:35
Roddy Gayle Jr. defensive rebound
17:30
Roddy Gayle Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Jacob Cofie steals)
17:20
Yaxel Lendeborg blocks Jacob Cofie's two point jump shot
17:18
Trojans offensive rebound
17:06
Chad Baker-Mazara misses three point jump shot
17:04
Yaxel Lendeborg defensive rebound
16:57
+2
Roddy Gayle Jr. makes two point layup (Aday Mara assists)
32-55
16:45
Yaxel Lendeborg shooting foul (Ezra Ausar draws the foul)
16:45
+1
Ezra Ausar makes regular free throw 1 of 2
33-55
16:45
+1
Ezra Ausar makes regular free throw 2 of 2
34-55
16:29
Elliot Cadeau turnover (lost ball)
16:24
Roddy Gayle Jr. shooting foul (Ezra Ausar draws the foul)
16:24
TV timeout
16:24
Ezra Ausar misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:24
+1
Ezra Ausar makes regular free throw 2 of 2
35-55
16:12
Yaxel Lendeborg misses three point jump shot
16:10
Jaden Brownell defensive rebound
15:53
Chad Baker-Mazara turnover (bad pass)
15:44
Gabe Dynes blocks Roddy Gayle Jr.'s two point layup
15:42
Kam Woods defensive rebound
15:24
+2
Jaden Brownell makes two point jump shot
37-55
15:08
+2
Morez Johnson Jr. makes two point dunk (Roddy Gayle Jr. assists)
37-57
14:42
+2
Terrance Williams II makes two point jump shot
39-57
14:21
+3
L.J. Cason makes three point jump shot (Elliot Cadeau assists)
39-60
13:51
Kam Woods turnover (lost ball)
13:39
Roddy Gayle Jr. misses three point jump shot
13:37
Will Tschetter offensive rebound
13:28
Trey McKenney turnover (bad pass)
13:21
Chad Baker-Mazara misses two point jump shot
13:19
Morez Johnson Jr. defensive rebound
13:13
+3
Morez Johnson Jr. makes three point jump shot (L.J. Cason assists)
39-63
12:58
+3
Jaden Brownell makes three point jump shot (Chad Baker-Mazara assists)
42-63
12:46
+2
Will Tschetter makes two point jump shot
42-65
12:25
Morez Johnson Jr. shooting foul (Ezra Ausar draws the foul)
12:25
Ezra Ausar misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:25
Ezra Ausar misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:25
Aday Mara defensive rebound
12:05
Ezra Ausar shooting foul (Aday Mara draws the foul)
12:05
Aday Mara misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:05
+1
Aday Mara makes regular free throw 2 of 2
42-66
11:47
Will Tschetter shooting foul (Chad Baker-Mazara draws the foul)
11:47
TV timeout
11:47
Chad Baker-Mazara misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:47
+1
Chad Baker-Mazara makes regular free throw 2 of 2
43-66
11:36
+2
Aday Mara makes two point dunk (L.J. Cason assists)
43-68
11:15
+2
Chad Baker-Mazara makes two point layup
45-68
11:00
Jerry Easter II shooting foul (Trey McKenney draws the foul)
11:00
+1
Trey McKenney makes regular free throw 1 of 2
45-69
11:00
+1
Trey McKenney makes regular free throw 2 of 2
45-70
10:42
Chad Baker-Mazara turnover (bad pass) (Roddy Gayle Jr. steals)
10:35
+2
Trey McKenney makes two point layup (Roddy Gayle Jr. assists)
45-72
10:20
Jaden Brownell turnover (bad pass)
10:03
Jaden Brownell shooting foul (Aday Mara draws the foul)
10:03
Aday Mara misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:03
Aday Mara misses regular free throw 2 of 2
10:03
Jacob Cofie defensive rebound
9:44
+2
Jaden Brownell makes two point jump shot
47-72
9:22
Aday Mara misses two point jump shot
9:20
Terrance Williams II shooting foul (Roddy Gayle Jr. draws the foul)
