Umich Basketball surges past Howard 101-80 as Dusty May praises poise and second-half separation

umich basketball punched its ticket to the Round of 32 on Thursday night, beating Howard 101-80 in the NCAA Tournament. The 1-seeded Michigan Wolverines handled the 16-seeded Howard Bison in an opening-round game that turned after a tense first half and a decisive second-half stretch. Speaking after the final horn, head coach Dusty May and players Roddy Gayle Jr. and Morez Johnson Jr. pointed to steadiness under pressure, renewed defensive attention, and the lift of a loud crowd behind the bench.

Dusty May: Credit to Howard, then a clear message about Michigan’s composure

Dusty May opened his postgame remarks by congratulating Howard for what he called a “fantastic season, ” describing the Bison as “well-coached” and praising their passion, spirit, and togetherness. He said that even when an opponent’s style is difficult to prepare for, the film showed a group that plays hard and represents its university and athletic department with energy.

Then May shifted to his own team’s response in-game. He said Michigan “stayed the course” after taking what he described as a “haymaker” in the first half. May emphasized that his players did not play scared or tight, focusing instead on the next possession until they were able to “separate in the second half. ”

Players echo poise, halftime adjustments, and the emotion of the moment

Morez Johnson Jr. said Michigan’s mindset in a game like this is to avoid swinging emotionally. “It’s very important for us not to get too high or too low, ” Johnson said, adding that runs are inevitable and the priority is staying poised and continuing to play.

Johnson also addressed how he approached the week leading into the tournament after frustrating moments in the team’s previous game against Purdue. He framed it as a lesson to learn from quickly, saying the team could not hang its head and had to move forward with the tournament in focus.

At halftime, with Howard’s perimeter shooting drawing attention, Johnson said Michigan’s defensive emphasis was straightforward: “We had to pick it up. ” He highlighted guarding the three-point line better, forcing turnovers, and creating deflections as the points of emphasis coming out of the break.

Roddy Gayle Jr. described the significance of playing with visible support behind Michigan’s bench. He said it “means a lot” to feel that love in the arena, calling it his first time playing in front of many family and friends and labeling the experience “a great feeling. ” He added that he tried not to look into the stands because he wanted to stay locked into the game plan, but the crowd’s eruption helped the nerves fade so he could “play free. ”

Quick context

The win sends Michigan into the Round of 32 after a 101-80 result over Howard on Thursday night (ET). In the immediate aftermath, Dusty May, Roddy Gayle Jr., and Morez Johnson Jr. focused on composure under early pressure and cleaner defensive execution after halftime.

What’s next

Michigan’s next test will come in the Round of 32, where the margin for drifting emotionally or defensively shrinks fast. If umich basketball carries forward the poise May praised—staying locked on the next possession and tightening the three-point-line defense emphasized at halftime—the Wolverines will enter the next game with a clear blueprint from Thursday night’s response to that first-half “haymaker. ”