March 20, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Tre Donaldson (3) dribbles the ball during the second half as UC San Diego Tritons guard Hayden Gray (3) defends at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images DENVER – Tre Donaldson hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:13 left, and fifth-seeded Michigan weathered a second-half comeback by No. 12 UC San Diego to beat the Tritons 68-65 in the South Region first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night.
Donaldson finished with 12 points, Vladislav Goldin had 14 points, Roddy Gayle Jr. contributed 11 and Danny Wolf grabbed 11 rebounds for the Wolverines (26-9), who play No. 4 Texas A&M on Saturday.
Tyler McGhie scored a game-high 25 points, Nordin Kapic added 15 and Hayden Gray finished with 10 for UC San Diego (30-5).
With the game tied at 63 with 2:43 remaining, Wolf missed the front end of a one-and-one and McGhie’s jumper gave the Tritons their first lead of the night. Donaldson answered with a long 3-pointer to put Michigan ahead.
Goldin was fouled on an offensive rebound with 19.3 seconds left and drained both free throws. McGhie then missed a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left.
Michigan led by 15 in the opening minute of the second half, but the Tritons reeled off 11 straight points to pull within three.
Donaldson’s 3-pointer with 16:32 left was the Wolverines’ first basket of the second half, but Kapic answered with one from deep to make it 45-42. After two missed free throws, Gray’s layup made it a one-point game.
Michigan went on an 11-2 run, but UC San Diego rallied to cut it to 61-56.
Gayle and Donaldson each split a pair of free throws, allowing the Tritons to tie it at 63 on McGhie’s 3-pointer with 3:05 left.
The Wolverines raced out to a 10-point lead to start the game and were ahead 20-8 after Wolf’s layup midway through, but UC San Diego fought back to within seven with 4:59 left.
Michigan stretched its lead in the final minutes of the first, and Goldin’s three-point play with a second left gave the Wolverines a 41-27 advantage at halftime.
–By Michael Kelly, Field Level Media
