Michigan Wolverines Advance to Face Texas A&M After Close Win

DENVER, Colo. — The No. 5 seed Michigan Wolverines secured a hard-fought 68-65 victory over the No. 12-seeded UC San Diego Tritons on Thursday night, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. With the win, they will face No. 4 Texas A&M on Saturday at 5:15 p.m. ET on CBS.

The matchup comes after Texas A&M triumphed over Yale, defeating the No. 13 seeded team 80-71 in their opening game. The Aggies are known for their strong offensive rebounding despite lacking height on their roster, a fact highlighted by head coach Buzz Williams during a pre-tournament press conference.

“What I would say without arrogance is during our time since the pandemic, we have realized that that was a way for us to create a niche at Texas A&M relative to our roster and our style of play, to create a competitive margin,” Williams said, emphasizing the team’s unique approach.

The Wolverines’ win over UC San Diego was marked by late-game heroics from junior guard Tre Donaldson, who played a crucial role in the team’s success. Michigan maintained a narrow lead for much of the game, but the Tritons challenged that lead vigorously, making the final minutes especially tense.

Michigan’s coach, Dusty May, noted the pressures faced during the game, stating, “We’ve been our own worst enemy at times, but the team showed resilience.” May referred to the challenges of maintaining focus, especially with unforced turnovers earlier in the game.

In anticipation of facing Texas A&M, Coach May acknowledged the mutual respect between the coaching staff. “Buzz is a great coach, and they play a style that is hard to match. We have to be prepared for their intensity,” he said.

The Wolverines and Aggies have faced off twice before, with Michigan winning both encounters, including a notable 99-72 triumph during the Sweet Sixteen of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. This history gives Michigan a slight psychological edge heading into their next game.

As they prepare for this critical matchup, both teams will look to leverage their strengths. Michigan aims to tighten their defensive strategies while also improving on their rebounding efficiency, areas they consider pivotal for success against a determined Aggies squad.

The upcoming game promises to be a thrilling contest, with both teams vying for a spot in the next round of the tournament and a chance to push further toward a championship.