Michigan absolutely dismantled Howard in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, cruising to a 101-80 victory at KeyBank Center. The Wolverines, seeded No. 1, controlled the game wire-to-wire, building a commanding 31-point lead and never looking back. Michigan unleashed devastating runs in the second half—a 12-1 surge pushed the lead to 77-59, followed by a relentless 17-2 run that put the game completely out of reach at 98-67. Howard made a desperate late push, reeling off an 11-2 run to cut into the deficit, but it was too little, too late. Cam Gillus hit a 3-pointer with 51 seconds left to keep the Bison competitive on the scoreboard, but Michigan's superior depth and execution proved too much to overcome. The Wolverines' dominant defensive performance and balanced offensive attack delivered a Statement win to advance in the Midwest Region.