NEW YORK, NY — For an exhibition game during the tail end of October, Saturday night at Madison Square Garden had all the makings of March Madness.
Haymakers from both sides of No. 7 Michigan and No. 5 St. John’s—battling it out on the floor of “The World’s Most Famous Arena” like the heavyweights they’re projected to be this coming College Hoops season—with the Wolverines prevailing in overtime by a final score of 96-94.
Though it wasn’t pretty for a majority of the contest, including 54 fouls combined by both teams, four players fouling out, 70 free throws and 21 turnovers, the Top-10 matchup featured 19 lead changes and 10 times where the score was tied.
No. 5 St. John’s and No. 7 Michigan lived up to the billing Saturday night in their exhibition matchup at Madison Square Garden – Image Credit: St. John’s Men’s Basketball
“I don’t think it gets any better than that for an exhibition game,” said Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino. “It was a wonderful game with a great crowd, and for us, it was much needed.”
As the MSG crowd of 13,287 watched from the edge of their seats for all 40 minutes of regulation and five minutes of overtime, Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg shined under the bright lights of “The Mecca”—leading the Wolverine Pack with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Yaxel Lendeborg showed up and showed out at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” Saturday night, dropping 25 points with six boards and four assists – Image Credit: Michigan Men’s Basketball
The Dominican star graduate forward, the top big man in the NCAA transfer portal this past offseason, ranked No. 5 on ESPN’s Top 100 men’s NCAA basketball players list going into 2025-26—shot 10-15 from the field, 2-4 from behind the arc and 3-4 at the free throw line, to go along with four assists.
“It was a blessing and pretty emotional for me,” he said of playing at The Garden as his loved ones were in the building rooting him on. “My family’s out there watching me too. They got the flags and everything. It was an honor. It felt like a dream.”
Lendeborg was born in Puerto Rico while his mother was still a student in college though both of his parents are of Dominican Republic descent, each playing for the D.R. National Basketball team throughout their respective careers. A long-term goal of his as well when looking into his future (More on LatinoSports.com coming soon).
With two exhibition games played under his belt at Michigan, Yaxel Lendeborg, a potential lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, has recorded 56 points and 22 rebounds (31 points and 12 rebounds vs. Cincinnati + 25 points & 10 rebounds vs. St. John’s) – Image Credit: Michigan Men’s Basketball
On the other side of Saturday’s overtime thriller, St. John’s senior forward Zuby Ejiofor, who is as elite as they come, recently named the Big East Preseason Player of the Year, listed two spots behind Lendeborg at No. 7 on ESPN’s Top 100 men’s NCAA basketball players list going into 2025-26—went blow for blow with the six-nine Wolverine, finishing with 24 points of his own (6-12 FG, 0-2 3PT, 12-13 FT), six rebounds, six assists and three steals.
“We’re trying to get back to that defensive mindset we had last year,” Ejiofor noted. “It’s going to take time, but we’re going to figure it out.”
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