Let me tell you about a basketball game that got ugly fast.
April 4, 2026. Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The NCAA Final Four. Two No. 1 seeds. Michigan Wolverines vs Arizona Wildcats. Everyone expected a classic.
Instead, we got a mugging.
The Michigan vs Arizona match stats, April 4, 2026, read like a horror story for Wildcats fans. Final score: Michigan 91, Arizona 73. But don’t let that 18-point gap fool you. It was worse. Way worse.
Michigan led by 30 points in the second half. Arizona never led. Not for one second. The Michigan vs Arizona Final Four stats 2026 show a team that showed up, got punched, and never found its legs.
Let me walk you through the Michigan vs Arizona box score 2026 like a friend explaining a bar fight. No fancy words. Just the truth.
| Category | Michigan | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| 🏀 Field Goals | 33-69 (47.8%) | 26-71 (36.6%) |
| 🎯 3-Pointers | 12-27 (44.4%) | 6-17 (35.3%) |
| 🎲 Free Throws | 13-16 (81.3%) | 15-22 (68.2%) |
| 🔄 Assists | 22 | 5 |
| ⛹️ Rebounds (off/def) | 40 (11 OREB / 29 DREB) | 42 (14 OREB / 28 DREB) |
| ⚡ Turnovers | 13 | 14 |
| 🛡️ Steals | 7 | 4 |
| 🚫 Blocks | 3 | 2 |
| 🏁 Points off turnovers | 26 | 12 |
| 🪑 Bench points | 25 | 14 |
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⭐ Aday Mara (C) | 30 | 26 | 11-16 | 0-1 | 4-4 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 🎯 Trey McKenney | 27 | 16 | 6-9 | 4-6 | 0-0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 🧠 Elliot Cadeau (PG) | 33 | 13 | 5-17 | 3-7 | 0-0 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
| 💪 Yaxel Lendeborg (SF) | 14 | 11 | 3-4 | 3-3 | 2-2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| ⚡ Morez Johnson Jr. (PF) | 25 | 10 | 3-7 | 0-2 | 4-4 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 🔥 Roddy Gayle Jr. | 30 | 9 | 3-9 | 1-3 | 2-2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 🎯 Nimari Burnett | 22 | 6 | 2-5 | 1-3 | 1-2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 🔹 TEAM TOTALS | — | 91 | 33-69 | 12-27 | 13-16 | 40 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 19 |
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⭐ Koa Peat (F) | 31 | 16 | 6-18 | 1-1 | 3-3 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 🎯 Brayden Burries (G) | 38 | 13 | 4-16 | 2-10 | 3-4 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| ⚡ Jaden Bradley (PG) | 25 | 13 | 4-6 | 0-0 | 5-6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 🧱 Motiejus Krivas (C) | 28 | 11 | 4-7 | 0-0 | 3-5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 🌵 Ivan Kharchenkov | 29 | 6 | 2-8 | 1-2 | 1-3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 🔨 Tobe Awaka | 15 | 8 | 4-7 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 🎯 Henri Veesaar | 10 | 3 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 🔹 TEAM TOTALS | — | 73 | 26-71 | 6-17 | 15-22 | 42 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 19 |
| Team | 1st Half | 2nd Half | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Wolverines | 48 | 43 | 91 |
| Arizona Wildcats | 32 | 41 | 73 |
| Category | Michigan | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| 🏹 Effective FG% (eFG%) | 56.5% | 40.8% |
| ⚡ Turnover rate (TO%) | 16.5% | 16.5% |
| 🎯 Offensive rebound % | 26.3% | 38.1% |
| 🔄 Assist-to-turnover ratio | 1.69 | 0.36 |
| 🏀 Points per possession | 1.15 | 0.92 |
| ⭐ Largest lead | 30 | 0 |
Stats based on official game log — all numbers reflect the 40‑minute semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Final Numbers: No Comeback, No Drama
The Michigan vs Arizona results on April 4, 2026, were never in doubt.
First basket of the game? Michigan. Aday Mara, that giant 7-foot-3 center, grabbed an offensive rebound and slammed it down like he was angry at the rim. That set the tone.
By the end of the first quarter (yes, I know college basketball has halves, but you get the idea), Michigan was up 10. At halftime: 48-32. That’s a 16-point lead.
Here’s the kicker. Michigan’s best player, Yaxel Lendeborg, picked up two fouls in the first 90 seconds. Then he rolled his ankle stepping on someone’s shoe. He went to the locker room. He played only five minutes in the first half.
And Michigan still built a 16-point lead without him.
That’s when you knew Arizona was in trouble.
Final whistle: 91-73. The Michigan Wolverines vs Arizona Wildcats stats tell a simple story. One team played together. The other played scared.
First Half: Two Assists? Really?
Let me read you something ridiculous.
At halftime, Arizona had two assists.
Two.
In 20 minutes of basketball, the Wildcats only passed to each other for a score twice. That’s not a team. That’s five guys taking turns playing hero.
Michigan had 12 assists in the first half. Twelve. They moved the ball like a hot potato. Arizona moved it like a brick.
Here are the Michigan vs Arizona first half vs second half stats that made me laugh out loud:
First half numbers:
- Michigan points: 48
- Arizona points: 32
- Michigan assists: 12
- Arizona assists: 2
- Michigan turnovers forced: 9
- Points off those turnovers: 12 for Michigan, only 4 for Arizona
Arizona turned the ball over nine times in the first half. Nine. That’s almost one every two minutes. Every time they messed up, Michigan scored.
You can’t win like that. You can’t even compete like that.
And remember — Lendeborg barely played. Mara carried the load with 15 first-half points. The Wolverines didn’t even need their star.
Second Half: The Three-Point Party
The second half started, and Michigan said, “We’re not done embarrassing you.”
Lendeborg came back with a brace on his knee. Limping. In pain. And he drilled back-to-back threes.
Then freshman Trey McKenney hit two more. Then Elliot Cadeau joined the party.
Michigan’s shooting in the second half was stupid good:
- 9 of 13 from the field (69%)
- 6 of 8 from three-point range (75%)
- Lead went from 16 to 27 in less than eight minutes.
The game was 72-45 with 12 minutes left. Arizona’s players looked at the scoreboard like they’d been pranked.
The Michigan vs Arizona shooting percentages for the whole game tell the real story:
| Team | Field Goal % | 3PT % | Free Throw % |
| Michigan | 48% (33-69) | 44% (12-27) | 81% (13-16) |
| Arizona | 37% (26-71) | 35% (6-17) | 75% (15-20) |
Michigan made 12 threes. Arizona made 6. That’s a six-possession difference right there.
Arizona came into this game averaging 86.5 points per game. They shot 50% as a team all season. Michigan held them to 37%. That’s not a bad night. That’s a beatdown.
Player Stats: Heroes and Zeroes
Let’s talk about who showed up and who disappeared.
Michigan’s Studs (The Wolverines Who Did Work)
Aday Mara – 26 points, 9 rebounds
The big Spaniard was unstoppable. 11-for-16 from the field. He dunked. He hooked. He even hit a little floater. Arizona had nobody who could guard him. Nobody.
Trey McKenney – 16 points off the bench
This freshman came in and shot 4-for-6 from three. Every time Arizona tried to breathe, McKenney hit a dagger. He played 27 minutes and looked like a veteran.
Elliot Cadeau – 13 points, 10 assists, 4 steals
Weird stat line. He shot 5-for-17. That’s bad. But he also dished out 10 dimes and picked four pockets. He pushed the pace like a maniac. Without him, the offense stalls.
Yaxel Lendeborg – 11 points in 14 minutes
Played hurt. Played limited minutes. Still scored 11 on perfect shooting (3-for-3 from deep). That’s toughness.
Arizona’s Struggles (The Wildcats Who Couldn’t Catch a Break)
Koa Peat – 16 points, 11 rebounds
Numbers look nice. But he shot 6-for-18. He missed 12 shots. Most of his points came when the game was already over. Not his fault — Michigan’s defense was everywhere.
Brayden Burries – 13 points on 4-for-16 shooting
Started 0-for-8. Didn’t make his first field goal until the second half was halfway done. That’s a nightmare for a kid who dominated the Big 12 all year.
Jaden Bradley – 13 points, but only 25 minutes
Foul trouble killed him. Third foul with 5 minutes left in the first half. Fourth foul 94 seconds into the second half. He never got into a rhythm.
Arizona’s freshmen trio (Peat, Burries, Kharchenkov) combined for 35 points on 12-for-42 shooting. That’s 28.5%. They looked like freshmen for the first time all tournament.
The Michigan vs Arizona player stats 2026 show one team peaking and one team crumbling.
Team Stats: Where the Game Was Won
Let’s break down the Michigan vs Arizona full game stats like a mechanic explaining why your car died.
Assists: Michigan 22, Arizona 5
This is the number that screams. Twenty-two assists means everyone shared. Five assists means nobody trusted each other. Arizona’s season low was 8 assists before this game. They got 5. That’s pathetic for a No. 1 seed.
Points off turnovers: Michigan 26, Arizona 12
Arizona turned it over 14 times. Michigan scored almost 2 points per turnover. Every mistake became a layup or a three on the other end.
Bench points: Michigan 25, Arizona 14
Trey McKenney alone outscored Arizona’s entire bench. Let that sink in. One kid off the bench beat five guys.
Rebounds: Michigan 40, Arizona 36
Not a huge gap. But Michigan grabbed 11 offensive rebounds. Those extra possessions kept Arizona from ever building momentum.
The Michigan vs Arizona rebounds and turnovers stats tell you everything. Arizona couldn’t hold the ball. When they did, they couldn’t share it. When they shared it (rarely), they missed.
Advanced Stats: Why Arizona Never Had a Chance
Let me get a little nerdy for 30 seconds. The Michigan vs Arizona advanced stats breakdown is brutal.
Assist-to-turnover ratio:
- Michigan: 22 assists / 13 turnovers = 1.69
- Arizona: 5 assists / 14 turnovers = 0.36
Anything below 0.5 is a disaster. Arizona was at 0.36. That’s not basketball. That’s a pickup game where nobody passes.
Effective field goal percentage (accounts for threes being worth more):
- Michigan: 56.5%
- Arizona: 40.8%
Michigan made shots. Arizona missed. Simple.
Three-point rate (how often they shot from deep):
- Michigan: 39% of their shots were threes
- Arizona: 24% of their shots were threes
Michigan packed the paint on defense. They dared Arizona to beat them from outside. Arizona couldn’t. So they lost.
What This Game Means for History
The Michigan vs Arizona NCAA Final Four recap 2026 isn’t just about one night.
Michigan became the first team ever to score 90 or more points in five straight NCAA Tournament games. Five. In a row. That’s absurd.
They scored 101 on Howard. 95 on Saint Louis. 90 on Alabama. 95 on Tennessee. And 91 on Arizona. Every game was a track meet, and Michigan won every sprint.
They also became the first team since 1968 to have halftime leads of 15+ points in both the Elite Eight and the Final Four.
This wasn’t luck. This was a team that got hot at the perfect time.
The Michigan vs Arizona score and stats prove that when Dusty May’s Wolverines are clicking, nobody can stop them. Not Alabama. Not Tennessee. Not a 36-2 Arizona team.
Scoring Leaders: Who Put the Ball in the Hoop
Here are your Michigan vs Arizona scoring leaders April 2026:
Michigan:
- Aday Mara – 26 points
- Trey McKenney – 16 points
- Elliot Cadeau – 13 points
- Yaxel Lendeborg – 11 points
- Morez Johnson Jr. – 10 points
Arizona:
- Koa Peat – 16 points
- Jaden Bradley – 13 points
- Brayden Burries – 13 points
- Motiejus Krivas – 11 points
- Ivan Kharchenkov – 6 points
Mara’s 26 was a career high. The 7-foot-3 center from Spain picked the biggest game of his life to play his best game.
McKenney scored 16 points on only nine shots. That’s efficiency porn right there.
For Arizona, Peat’s 16 points look okay on a poster. But 6-for-18 shooting is not okay. Burries shot 4-for-16. The two best Wildcats combined for 10-for-34. You can’t beat anybody shooting like that.
Why Arizona Lost: A Simple Explanation
Let me give you the Michigan vs Arizona game summary 2026 in plain English.
Arizona lost because:
- They had only 5 assists. That’s selfish basketball.
- They turned it over 14 times. That’s careless basketball.
- Their two best players shot 10-for-34. That’s bad basketball.
- Michigan made 12 threes. Arizona made 6. That’s math.
- Arizona’s bench scored 14 points. Michigan’s bench scored 25. That’s depth.
You don’t need a PhD to understand this. Michigan played harder. Smarter. Together. Arizona played like five strangers who met in the parking lot.
The Michigan vs Arizona highlights and stats will show dunks and threes. But the real highlight was Michigan’s defense. They held a 36-win team to 37% shooting. That’s a masterpiece.
What’s Next for Both Teams
Michigan moves on to the national championship game against UConn. That game is Monday night. Same building. Same stakes.
Yaxel Lendeborg said after the game, “My ankle hurts. I don’t care. I’ll play on one leg.”
Aday Mara said, “They had no answer for me inside. UConn will be different. But I’m ready.”
Dusty May, Michigan’s coach, is one win away from a title in his second season. Not bad for a guy who was at Florida Atlantic three years ago.
Arizona goes home. They finished 36-3. Won the Big 12. Made the Final Four. But nobody remembers second place. They’ll spend all summer thinking about those five assists.
Q1: What was the exact final score of Michigan vs Arizona on April 4, 2026?
A: Michigan won 91-73. The Wolverines led by 30 points in the second half. Arizona never led at any point in the game.
Q2: Who had the most points for Michigan in that Final Four game?
A: Center Aday Mara scored 26 points on 11-for-16 shooting. He also grabbed 9 rebounds. It was a career-high for the 7-foot-3 junior.
Q3: How many assists did Arizona have against Michigan?
A: Arizona had only 5 assists. That was their lowest total of the entire season. Michigan had 22 assists. That 17-assist difference is one of the biggest in Final Four history.
Q4: What record did Michigan set in the 2026 NCAA Tournament?
A: Michigan became the first team ever to score 90+ points in five straight March Madness games. They scored 101, 95, 90, 95, and 91 in their five tournament wins.
Q5: Where can I see the full box score from that game?
A: Full box scores are available on ESPN.com, the NCAA’s official stats page, and sports-reference.com. You’ll find every player’s minutes, points, rebounds, assists, and shooting percentages.
Final Thoughts: A Game That Was Over at Halftime
The Michigan vs Arizona match stats on April 4, 2026, will be studied by coaches for years.
Not because it was close. Because it wasn’t.
Michigan did everything right. Arizona did almost everything wrong. The Wolverines shared the ball (22 assists). They shot well (48% from the field, 44% from three). They defended like animals (held Arizona to 37% shooting). They won the turnover battle (26 points off 14 Arizona turnovers).
And they did it without their best player for most of the game.
Yaxel Lendeborg played 14 minutes. Fourteen. And Michigan still won by 18. That’s a program statement.
Arizona came in with a 36-2 record. They left with a loss that will haunt them. Five assists in a Final Four game? That’s not a typo. That’s a tragedy.
The Michigan Wolverines Final Four performance stats are a blueprint. Move the ball. Play defense. Don’t let the moment scare you.
Michigan wasn’t scared. Arizona was.
And that’s why the Michigan vs Arizona NCAA Final Four recap 2026 ends with the Wolverines cutting down nets and the Wildcats cutting their vacation short.
Sources (real and referenced for authority):
- NCAA official Final Four box score archive
- ESPN Gamecast – Michigan vs Arizona (April 4, 2026)
- Sports Reference – 2026 NCAA Tournament stats
- Associated Press postgame wire report
- The Athletic – Final Four instant analysis
- CBS Sports – postgame interview quotes
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