Michigan walked into State Farm Center on Friday night with one job left in the Big Ten race and left with a trophy, a program record, and a scoreboard that never really stopped leaning its way.
Behind a double double from forward Morez Johnson Jr, No. 3 Michigan beat No. 10 Illinois 84-70 to clinch the outright Big Ten regular season title. Johnson finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds against his former school, a return trip that came with boos from the home crowd nearly every time he touched the ball.
Michigan improved to 27-2 overall and 17-1 in conference play, setting a school record for Big Ten victories in a season. The Wolverines also secured their first outright regular season conference title since 2014 and their second outright Big Ten regular season championship in the last 10 years.
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Johnson’s stat line matched the moment. He played at Illinois last season after verbally committing three years earlier, then transferred to Michigan. Friday’s game put him back in Champaign as the centerpiece of the clincher, and the fans made sure he heard it.
Michigan got balance behind Johnson, but the frontcourt production stood out. Aday Mara scored 19 points on 8-for-9 shooting, and Yaxel Lendeborg added 16 points and seven rebounds. Michigan led 38-31 at halftime, with Johnson scoring 13 of his 19 points before the break.
The win also extended several season-long trends for Michigan. The Wolverines are 10-0 on the road and have won 23 games by 10 or more points. They also recorded an eighth straight win against AP-ranked conference opponents, including 5-0 against ranked Big Ten teams this season.
Illinois entered the night as the Big Ten’s top 3-point shooting team but went 9-of-29 from deep against Michigan. Keaton Wagler scored 23 points for the Fighting Illini and reached double figures for the 21st straight game. Kylan Boswell added 15 points, and David Mirkovic had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Illinois fell to 22-7 overall and 13-5 in league play.
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Michigan’s clincher also carried a bit of history with the setting. The Wolverines last sealed an outright Big Ten regular season title in 2014, and that title was also clinched with a win at Illinois. This time, Michigan finished the job with a 14-point win, doing it with interior scoring, rebounding, and a steady second half that kept Illinois from turning the building into a factor.
The result capped an Illinois stretch that has been uneven. Illinois has lost four of its last six games, including three overtime losses in that span. Michigan, meanwhile, has played like a team intent on removing suspense from the standings early, and Friday’s win did exactly that.
For Illinois, the immediate schedule continues with Oregon on March 3 in Champaign. Michigan’s focus shifts to finishing the regular season strong with the conference title already secured and postseason seeding next in line.
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