FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Michigan put on a dominant performance in the Fort Myers Tip-Off championship game, overpowering No. 22 Xavier 78-53 on Wednesday night. The Wolverines took control early and never let up, using a balanced attack led by Danny Wolf, who delivered a stellar 20-point, 14-rebound double-double. Vlad Goldin added 18 points, while Tre Donaldson chipped in 13, as Michigan (6-1) showcased its ability to control both ends of the floor.
The game opened with intensity, but Michigan wasted little time asserting itself. With former Wolverines head coach John Beilein looking on from the crowd, Michigan used a game-changing 19-3 run in the first half to break things open. The Wolverines’ defensive pressure and offensive efficiency had Xavier scrambling, as the Musketeers struggled to find any rhythm. By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, Michigan had built a comfortable 41-30 lead.
A major catalyst in the first half was Wolf, who was seemingly unstoppable. He poured in 16 of his 20 points before the break, draining four three-pointers and dominating the glass. Michigan’s inside-out game kept Xavier off balance, and despite some solid individual efforts from the Musketeers, they couldn't generate enough offense to keep pace.
Xavier (6-1) came into the game riding high after a solid start to the season, but offensive struggles doomed them in this matchup. Ryan Conwell led the Musketeers with 19 points, while Zach Freemantle added 14, but as a team, Xavier shot just 34.5% (20-of-58) from the field. Their outside shooting woes were compounded by turnovers, Xavier coughed up the ball 19 times, including a staggering 14 in the first half, preventing them from building any offensive flow.
Despite their struggles, Xavier showed some fight in the second half, chipping away at the deficit. The Musketeers managed to cut Michigan’s lead to 59-51 and had an opportunity to close the gap further. They forced a miss on the defensive end, but in a pivotal moment, Michigan’s Will Tschetter grabbed the offensive rebound and kicked it out to L.J. Cason, who drilled a clutch three-pointer. That shot proved to be the turning point, halting Xavier’s momentum and pushing the Wolverines’ lead back to double digits. From there, Michigan never looked back, locking in defensively and extending the lead as the clock wound down.
While Xavier will need to address its scoring droughts, having also struggled with a similar lapse against South Carolina earlier in the tournament, Michigan appears to be hitting its stride at the right time. The Wolverines were sharp across the board, shooting 49.2% from the floor and 50% from beyond the arc (11-of-22), all while dominating inside with 38 points in the paint. Their defensive intensity also stood out, as they racked up 10 steals and forced Xavier into mistakes throughout the game.
Looking ahead, Xavier will return home to take on South Carolina State on Sunday, aiming to bounce back from this tough loss. Meanwhile, Michigan turns its attention to a major Big Ten showdown, as they travel to face No. 15 Wisconsin on Tuesday to kick off conference play. If this performance is any indication, the Wolverines are more than ready for the challenge.