Michigan holds off UConn to win 2026 NCAA men's basketball title

Michigan defeated UConn 69-63 in the NCAA men's basketball national championship game on Monday night, ending a 26-year national championship drought for the Big Ten. The Wolverines captured the second NCAA title in school history and its first since 1989. Elliot Cadeau led the Wolverines with 19 points, including the team's first 3, which came 7:04 into the second half.

The second, from freshman Trey McKenney, came with 1:50 left and felt like a dagger, giving the Wolverines a nine-point lead. To no one's surprise, UConn fought to the finish — Solo Ball banked in a 3 to cut it to four with 37 seconds left — and after two missed free throws, UConn's Alex Karaban (17 points) barely grazed the rim on a 3 that would've cut the deficit to one with 17 seconds left. Not until McKenney sank two free throws to bring Michigan's shooting from the line to 25 for 28 for the night could the Wolverines (37-3) kick off the celebration.

"Nobody cared about stats the whole season. Nobody cared about nothing but winning," Cadeau said from the trophy presentation stage amid a confetti-strewn court. The game had a 1950s feel to it.

"If you'd told me we would shoot it this poorly and (be) dominated on the glass and still find a way to win, I don't know if I would have believed you," May said. "This team just found a way all season. " Michigan had to fight for everything.