Cason leads second-half rally as No. 2 Michigan knocks off Northwestern, 87-75

Sophomore guard Tre Holloman and the No. 2-ranked Michigan Wolverines overcame a sluggish start to defeat the Northwestern Wildcats 87-75 at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Tuesday night. The Wolverines secured the victory after trailing by double digits in the first half, ultimately relying on a high-octane offensive surge following the intermission to maintain their perfect Big Ten record. The comeback was fueled by clinical perimeter shooting and a dominant rebounding performance that wore down a resilient Northwestern defense as the game progressed. Michigan's offensive turnaround was spearheaded by a career-high performance from Holloman, who drained five three-pointers and provided the spark the home crowd had been waiting for. After falling behind 38-27 due to a series of turnovers and defensive lapses, the Wolverines shifted to a more aggressive transition game in the second half. This strategic adjustment allowed them to outscore the Wildcats 50-32 over the final 20 minutes, effectively neutralizing Northwestern's early momentum and several key scoring runs by their opponents. Despite the loss, Northwestern remained competitive for much of the contest, led by Ty Berry and Nick Martinelli. The Wildcats utilized a disciplined half-court offense to exploit Michigan's early perimeter vulnerabilities, but they eventually struggled to keep pace once Michigan's depth became a factor. The victory reinforces Michigan's position as a top national contender and a leader in the conference standings, while highlighting the team's ability to remain composed under pressure and execute under the guidance of their coaching staff during critical late-game stretches.