Penn State's Freddie Dilione V (5) drives the baseline on Michigan's Trey McKenney, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)

UNIVERSITY PARK — L.J. Cason scored 14 points and No. 2 Michigan held on to beat Penn State 74-72 on Tuesday night.

Nimari Burnett and Trey McKenney had 12 points each and Yaxel Lendeborg added 10 for the Wolverines (14-0, 4-0 Big Ten), off to their best start since opening the 2018-19 season 17-0.

“We played with great grit. We played tough together, but I am not into moral victories, but I am proud of them,” Penn State coach Mike Rhoades said.

Michigan, which led by 15 with 10:41 left, had to survive a late Penn State push that fell short when Freddie Dilione’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the rim.

Playing in the Bryce Jordan Center for the first time in nearly three years, the Wolverines got an opening layup from Lendeborg, one of just three makes for Michigan in the first four minutes.

Meanwhile, Penn State (9-6, 0-4) had to play without leading scorer Kayden Mingo who suffered an undisclosed injury in practice on Monday.

Rhoades said Mingo would be out for a while and he was not allowed to comment on the injury because of Penn State policy towards injured players.

“When a guy goes down, you help him out by playing hard for him and by playing hard for each other,” Rhoades said. “Everyone has got to step up. You don’t cancel the game because someone got hurt. I told these guys you have a chance to pull this off so you got to respond every play. They gave themselves a chance to win.

Penn State fed on three turnovers to push its lead to 12-6 with 15:16 to play in the half. Ivan Juric notched nine of the Nittany Lions’ first 12.

Moments later, Lendeborg, who was questionable to play after leaving the team’s last game against USC with a calf injury, sparked an 11-0 Wolverine run.

It coincided with a 1-for-14 shooting stretch from the Nittany Lions.

Elliot Cadeau, McKenney and Cason hit 3-pointers over the final five minutes of the first and the Wolverines pushed their lead to 40-31 at halftime.

McKenney, who was 5 for 7 from the floor, hit back-to-back jumpers including a 3 to give Michigan a 15-point lead.

Juric led the Nittany Lions with 20 points. Before picking up his fourth foul with 5:48 left, Juric hit his second 3-pointer of the game during an 11-0 run that cut Michigan’s lead to three with 7:13 left.

A pair of free throws by Eli Rice free throws cut Michigan’s lead to 73-72 with 1:04 to play.

“I am not dejected, I am pissed. I didn’t come here to lose games. I want to win and I want these guys to win,” Rhoades added. “I didn’t come here to be close. Our guys showed something today, but lets show more.”

Dilione finished with 17 points.

Up next

Michigan: Hosts Wisconsin on Saturday.

Penn State: Visits No. 5 Purdue on Saturday.

MICHIGAN (14-0): Johnson 1-2 1-2 3, Lendeborg 3-9 4-4 10, Mara 2-5 3-6 7, Burnett 5-7 0-0 12, Cadeau 3-8 2-2 9, McKenney 5-7 0-0 12, Gayle 2-9 2-2 7, Cason 5-8 2-3 14, Tschetter 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-57 14-19 74.

PENN STATE (9-6): Juric 6-13 6-8 20, Mirtic 0-1 0-0 0, Dilione 6-16 3-6 17, Rice 2-7 2-2 7, Stewart 1-8 0-0 3, Reed 4-6 4-4 13, Tunca 2-7 0-0 5, Blackwood 1-4 0-0 2, Ciani 1-4 3-3 5. Totals 23-66 18-23 72.

Halftime–Michigan 40-31. 3-Point Goals–Michigan 8-27 (Cason 2-3, Burnett 2-4, McKenney 2-4, Cadeau 1-5, Gayle 1-5, Tschetter 0-2, Lendeborg 0-4), Penn State 8-30 (Juric 2-5, Dilione 2-6, Reed 1-2, Tunca 1-2, Rice 1-4, Stewart 1-7, Blackwood 0-2, Ciani 0-2). Fouled Out_Johnson. Rebounds–Michigan 33 (Johnson, Lendeborg, Mara 7), Penn State 38 (Reed 10). Assists–Michigan 15 (Lendeborg, Mara 4), Penn State 10 (Dilione 4). Total Fouls–Michigan 20, Penn State 19. A–5,491 (15,261).