23/03/2025
Roddy Gayle’s Second-Half Heroics Power Michigan into Sweet 16
Presented by Kingdom LYFE Sports Radio & Media
Denver, CO – March is about moments. And Saturday, Roddy Gayle Jr. delivered one for the books.
Down 10 midway through the second half, the Michigan Wolverines flipped the switch behind Gayle’s season-high 26 points, including 21 in the second half, to beat Texas A&M 91–79 and punch their ticket to the Sweet 16.
Gayle was relentless — slashing to the rim, pulling up in rhythm, and energizing the Wolverines’ bench with every bucket. It was his most explosive performance of the season — and it came when it mattered most.
But he wasn’t alone.
Vladislav Goldin, the 7-footer who followed head coach Dusty May from FAU, was a force in the paint — finishing with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Together, the duo helped Michigan dominate the final five minutes, going on a 9–0 run to close out the game after Texas A&M had pulled within three.
🔁 Momentum Shift
Michigan entered halftime down 39–35 and fell behind by double digits early in the second half. But their pressure, poise, and depth proved too much.
Texas A&M — the nation’s top offensive rebounding team — got beat at their own game. Michigan won the battle on the glass with 16 offensive rebounds, flipping the narrative down the stretch.
A&M star Pharrel Payne finished with 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting, but the Aggies missed eight of their final nine shots — running out of gas in the high altitude of Denver.
📈 From 8–24 to Sweet 16 — A Historic Turnaround
Michigan’s rise has been nothing short of dramatic. Just a year ago, they were at the bottom of the Big Ten. Then came a new coach, new players, and a new mindset.
Now, the Wolverines have won five games in nine days, claimed a Big Ten Tournament title, and are headed to Atlanta with belief, momentum — and a team built for March.
“We kept grinding, kept believing,” Gayle said postgame. “This team... we’re not done yet.”
🙌🏽 Faith Meets the Fight
Head coach Dusty May is no stranger to March. He brought the blueprint from FAU — but this run has been different.
“We’ve worked. We’ve trusted. And we’ve honored the process,” May said. “It’s a blessing to be here, and we give God all the glory.”
📻 Kingdom LYFE Sports Radio & Media celebrates these moments — where grit meets grace, and faith fuels the fight.
