NCAA: Aday Mara Powers Michigan to Final Against UConn After Dominant Win Over Arizona

INDIANAPOLIS — Aday Mara posted the best game of his NCAA career with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks to lead Michigan Wolverines to a dominant 91-73 victory over Arizona Wildcats in the Final Four of March Madness. The win sends the Wolverines to the championship game, where they will face UConn Huskies, who advanced to their third final in four years by defeating Illinois 71-62 in the other semifinal.

The semifinal between Michigan and Arizona, two of the tournament's top favorites, promised to be competitive and tense from the start. However, the game took a very different turn from the opening minutes. Michigan Wolverines took the court with overwhelming intensity and posted an early 11-2 run that set the tone for the matchup. In that opening stretch, Aday Mara became the absolute centerpiece of the game: dominant near the basket on offense and decisive on defense, where he controlled every attempt by the Wildcats in the paint.

The Spanish center began to build a memorable performance that would finish with 26 points, his NCAA career high, along with 9 rebounds and 2 blocks. His impact allowed Michigan to control the pace of the game from very early on and forced Arizona Wildcats to play constantly from behind.

As the first half progressed, the Wolverines extended their lead thanks to the emergence of several role players. Burnett, Gayle and McKenney provided important points that punished Arizona's defense, while the opposing team failed to find offensive consistency. Neither the injury to Yaxel Lendeborg nor the poor shooting day by Elliot Cadeau, who went to halftime 2 of 14 from the field, slowed Michigan's momentum, which went into the break with a commanding 48-32 lead.

The halftime break did not change the script. Michigan Wolverines continued to dominate the game with authority and extended their lead to as much as 30 points in a second half that was completely under control. Outside shooting was key in that stretch, with a 6 of 8 performance from three-point range, including the strong play of McKenney, who finished with 16 points, and Lendeborg, who despite his physical issues made 3 three-pointers without a miss.

Meanwhile, Aday Mara continued to impose his presence on both sides of the court. Arizona Wildcats' offensive attempts, led by Koa Peat, who finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Krivas, repeatedly ran into the intimidation of the Spanish big man.

With more than ten minutes still to play, the game was essentially decided. Michigan not only dominated the scoreboard, but also controlled the pace and feel of a semifinal that turned into a true collective showcase for the Wolverines.

In the other Final Four semifinal, UConn Huskies confirmed their ability to compete on the big stage by defeating Illinois 71-62 in a much more balanced contest. The game began with offensive struggles for both teams, though UConn found some advantage thanks to the interior work of Tarris Reed and the outside shooting of Braylon Mullins, who scored 12 points with three three-pointers in the first half. The Huskies went to halftime with a 37-29 lead, plus a significant stat: they had not committed a single turnover.

The second half was much more tense and competitive. Illinois responded led by Keaton Wagler, who kept his team in the game during the most difficult moments and allowed the Illini to cut into the deficit. However, UConn opened up a lead that reached 14 points, controlling the pace of the game with their defensive solidity.

In the final minutes the game tightened again. Mullins hit a three-pointer with 50 seconds remaining that appeared to seal the game, but Wagler responded immediately to keep Illinois alive. Ultimately, UConn Huskies withstood the final pressure and closed out the 71-62 victory, securing their spot in the championship.

The game also produced a historic stat: Braylon Mullins and Keaton Wagler became the first pair of freshmen to exceed 15 points in a Final Four since Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing in 1982.

Thus, the NCAA championship game will pit Michigan Wolverines against UConn Huskies, with Aday Mara heading into the tournament's final game after a dominant semifinal performance and establishing himself as one of the major stars of March Madness 2026.