Elliot Cadeau scores 17 and No. 1 Michigan uses strong interior game to beat up No. 7 Purdue 91-80

Michigan guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) shoots over Michigan guard Patrick Liburd (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) shoots over Michigan guard Patrick Liburd (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21) knocks a rebound away from Purdue center Oscar Cluff (45) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21) knocks a rebound away from Purdue center Oscar Cluff (45) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau (3) shoots in front of Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau (3) shoots in front of Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Purdue guard Fletcher Loyer (2) celebrates after a basket against Michigan during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Purdue guard Fletcher Loyer (2) celebrates after a basket against Michigan during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Elliot Cadeau scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half Tuesday night, and Aday Mara added 10 points and 11 rebounds to send No. 1 Michigan past No. 7 Purdue 91-80.

Trey McKinney, Yaxel Lendeborg and L.J. Cason each had 13 points for the Wolverines, who won their 11th straight and took a big step toward capturing their first outright Big Ten regular-season title in five years.

The win came one day after Michigan (25-1, 15-1) moved into the nation's top spot for the first time since January 2013.

It was the 7-foot-3 Mara's early tone-setting presence that helped the Wolverines turn the tables on Purdue's usually dominant front line as two-time national player of the year Zach Edey watched from the second row. Mara made each of his first four shots on the way to a 10-point, eight-rebound first half. He spent most of the second half in foul trouble, finishing 4 of 6 from the field as Michigan had a 39-31 rebounding advantage.

Trey Kaufman-Renn scored a season high 27 points to lead Boilermakers on a night most of his teammates struggled. Braden Smith added 20 points as the Boilermakers (21-5, 11-4) had their four-game winning streak end. They now trail Michigan by 3 1/2 games in the league race.

Michigan took control quickly by using an early 13-0 spurt to take a 23-10 lead. A 14-4 scoring flurry gave Michigan a comfortable 44-22 cushion with 4:23 left in the first half, forcing Purdue to futilely play catchup the rest of the night.

Up next

Michigan: Faces another stiff challenge against No. 3 Duke on Saturday in Washington.

Purdue: Hopes to even the season series against Indiana at home Friday night.

___

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