Aday Mara Leads Michigan to Dominant 82-61 Win Over Ohio State in Historic Big Ten Statement

COLUMBUS Ohio — Second ranked Michigan delivered a commanding performance Sunday, led by freshman guard Aday Mara, who scored a career high 24 points, as the Wolverines rolled past Ohio State 82 - 61 at Value City Arena in a breaking update that reinforced Michigan’s Big Ten supremacy.

Michigan (22 1, 12 1 Big Ten) set the tone early with nine of its 10 made three pointers coming in the first half and maintained control through superior rebounding and balanced scoring. The Wolverines recorded 17 offensive boards and outrebounded Ohio State 44 -31, asserting dominance in the paint throughout the contest.

Morez Johnson Jr. posted 11 points and 12 rebounds while Yaxel Lendeborg added a double double with 14 points and 14 rebounds, marking a significant contribution in the latest timeline of Michigan’s strong conference campaign. Mara’s efficient shooting from the perimeter and Johnson and Lendeborg’s interior presence created a clear separation from the Buckeyes, who struggled to respond after falling behind 44 34 at halftime.

Ohio State (15 8, 7 6) was led by Bruce Thornton with 16 points and Devin Royal with 15, but the Buckeyes were limited to 8 of 25 shooting in the second half. The 21 point margin marked the program’s worst home loss to Michigan since February 9, 1976, when the Wolverines won 90 66, emphasizing the historical significance of the result.

The win extends Michigan’s advantage in the rivalry series, with the Wolverines winning six of the past seven meetings, and improves their outlook for the conference standings as March approaches. The victory also highlights Mara’s emergence as a key scoring option and signals continued development for Johnson and Lendeborg, both of whom are establishing themselves as elite Big Ten rebounders and all around contributors.

Michigan returns to action Wednesday at Northwestern, aiming to continue its winning streak and solidify seeding implications. Ohio State hosts Southern California on Wednesday, looking to regroup and regain momentum before resuming conference play.