Apex Scores Lite Apex Scores Lite flag
back Back
No. 16 Michigan beats Oakland 84-68 in opener for defending national champs in Mike Boynton's debut

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Roddy Gayle and Trey McKenney scored 17 points apiece for No. 16 Michigan and the defending national champions beat Oakland 84-68 on Monday night in Mike Boynton´s coaching debut with the program.

J.P. Estrella, a transfer from Tennessee, had 15 points and 12 rebounds and freshman Quinn Costello scored 13 points in their first game with the Wolverines.

Gayle returned for a fifth season as one of the many college basketball players who joined lawsuits across the country after the NCAA changed its eligibility rules.

After Michigan won its second national championship and first since 1989, coach Dusty May left to lead the Dallas Mavericks and Boynton was promoted from assistant to head coach. The Wolverines also lost a trio of first-round picks to the NBA: Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara and Morez Johnson.

Boynton is getting another chance to lead a team after he was fired two years ago following a seven-season run at Oklahoma State.

Michigan is counting on returning guards McKenney, Gayle and Elliot Cadeau to lead the way with transfers and freshmen filling the roster.

Michigan head coach Mike Boynton Jr. yells to his team from the bench in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oakland, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
Michigan head coach Mike Boynton Jr. yells to his team from the bench in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oakland, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

Former Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam missed the game with an illness and the Estrella started strong before cooling off. The 6-foot-11 forward scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the first half to help the Wolverines take control with a 47-36 lead.

Costello made a pair of 3-pointers early in the second half to put Michigan ahead by 14.

Oakland's Chris Fields Jr. scored 18, Nassim Mashhour had 14 of his 16 points in the first half and Ryder Bradley added 12 points off the bench.

Oakland: At Stanford on Friday night.

Michigan: Vs. No. 4 UConn on Friday night in Boston.

___

Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP´s full men´s basketball coverage here

Michigan forward J.P. Estrella (13) tries to block a shot by Oakland guard Nassim Mashhour (0) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
Michigan forward J.P. Estrella (13) tries to block a shot by Oakland guard Nassim Mashhour (0) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
Oakland guard Ryder Bradley, center, is double-teamed by Michigan guards Elliot Cadeau, front left, and Ricky Liburd (0) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
Oakland guard Ryder Bradley, center, is double-teamed by Michigan guards Elliot Cadeau, front left, and Ricky Liburd (0) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
Oakland forward Chris Fields Jr. (2) drives to the basket against Michigan forward J.P. Estrella, left, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
Oakland forward Chris Fields Jr. (2) drives to the basket against Michigan forward J.P. Estrella, left, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
Michigan forward Jalen Reed (19) is pressured by Oakland guard William Kassi (4) and forward Belal El Shakery (24) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
Michigan forward Jalen Reed (19) is pressured by Oakland guard William Kassi (4) and forward Belal El Shakery (24) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

You may like

SI:AM | The Most Interesting Results From College Basketball’s Opening Night

wjtv.com 6 hours ago

The million-dollar bull business: Forget the cowboys, the bulls are making big money, too

aol.com 2 hours ago