CHICAGO (AP) — When it comes to blocking shots, Aday Mara is the 7-foot-3 center of attention for Michigan.
This time, he had some company.
The Wolverines ramped up their defensive intensity in the second half of Friday night's 90-77 win over Alabama in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. They limited the Crimson Tide to 28 points and 32% shooting after they struggled to contain Labaron Philon Jr. and company early on.
Nimari Burnett helped set the tone when he blocked a 3-point attempt by Latrell Wrightsell Jr. with 18:02 left. Roddy Gayle Jr. blocked another 3-point try by Wrightsell with 17:10 remaining, and he rejected a long-range shot by Houston Mallette with 13:44 to go.
“When that happens, as shooters, you typically, when you get one or two blocks you start looking around instead of focusing on what you need to be looking at,” Michigan coach Dusty May said. “I do think that had an effect on their shooting, especially the last eight or 10 minutes.”
Of course, Mara had two of the Wolverines' eight blocks for the game. He is up to 98 blocks on the year, breaking Roy Tarpley's school record of 97 from the 1985-86 season.
The last time Michigan played in Chicago, it surrendered 42 points in the second half of an 80-72 loss to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament championship on March 15.
“Our personality is really on the defensive side, so we really got to that,” Gayle said. “Also, playing the first half we kind of understood what kind of game it was going to be, so I’m really proud of how our guys adapted to the circumstances.”
Michigan trailed Alabama 49-47 at the break after Philon scored 19 of his 35 points in the first half. The Crimson Tide went 9 for 24 from 3-point range in the early going.
“I would say we tried to pretty much get into an offensive match with those guys,” said Yaxel Lendeborg, who had 23 points for the Wolverines. “You know, we’re not that kind of team. They’re a way better offensive team than we are. Once we started slowing the game down, being a lot more physical, and trying to dominate the paint, we started finding more success.
“Our defense started coming alive, and that really helped us out. It helped our confidence.”
Michigan turned its second-half defense into points on the other end.
Lendeborg stepped in front of an Alabama pass along the baseline and threw the ball ahead to Nimari Burnett for a fast-break dunk that gave the Wolverines a 54-51 lead with 17:04 left. A steal by Elliot Cadeau turned into a layup by Trey McKenney that made it 67-57 with 13:23 remaining.
“I felt like in the first half we let them, you know, get a lot of open 3-pointers,” McKenney said. “I think in the second half we were early in the gap and then we got out, and we made them shoot tougher shots. I think that was why the result was at the end of the game.”
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
Alabama's Aiden Sherrell (22) wipes his face after losing to Michigan in a Sweet 16 NCAA college basketball tournament game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Michigan's Morez Johnson Jr. (21) reaches for a rebound between teammate Will Tschetter, right, and Alabama's Amari Allen, left, during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg (23) celebrates after defeating Alabama in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
JUPITER ISLAND, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods was released on bail Friday, hours after his Land Rover clipped a truck, rolled onto its side and the golfer was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, officials said.
Christine Weiss, a spokesperson for the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, said Woods, who was not injured in the crash, was released late Friday. Florida law required that he spend at least eight hours in jail before he could post bail. The bail amount wasn't immediately known.
Woods had been traveling at “high speeds” on a residential road and after the crash showed “signs of impairment,” Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said, adding that investigators believe he had taken some kind of medication or drug. He described Woods as lethargic and said he agreed to a Breathalyzer test that showed no signs of alcohol, but he refused a urine test and was arrested.
Woods had been held separate from others at the jail, Budensiek said.
“He’s not going to be with other inmates that could hurt him or try to capitalize on what he did,” he said. “He’ll pay the price, but he’s not going to pay the price by getting punished in jail.”
Woods’ manager at Excel Sports did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.
It was the second time Woods has been arrested for a DUI not as a result of the influence of alcohol. He said he took a bad mix of painkillers when authorities found him in 2017 asleep behind the wheel of his car, the engine still running and its driver’s side damaged. Woods pleaded guilty then to reckless driving.
President Donald Trump, whose former daughter-in-law is dating Woods, was asked about the golfer when he landed in Miami on Friday afternoon for an investment summit.
“I feel so badly. He’s got some difficulty,” Trump said. “Very close friend of mine. He’s an amazing person. Amazing man. But, some difficulty.”
The crash occurred just before 2 p.m. not far from where Woods lives on Jupiter Island.
Budensiek said Woods attempted to pass a pressure cleaner truck while driving on a two-lane road with a 30 mph (48 kph) speed limit. He said authorities could not determine how fast Woods was going.
The Land Rover swerved to avoid a collision as he was passing the truck but clipped the back end of the truck’s trailer, Budensiek said. Woods’ car then rolled onto its driver’s side and he crawled out.
The sheriff said Woods was “cooperative, but he's not trying to incriminate himself.” He said Woods has the right to refuse the urine test and that authorities “will never get definitive results with what he was impaired on.”
This was the fourth time Woods has been involved in a car crash, most recently in February 2021 when his SUV ran off a coastal road in Los Angeles at a high rate of speed, leading to multiple leg and ankle injuries. Woods said later doctors considered amputation. He also previously sustained multiple injuries to his left knee and his back during his golf career.
Woods returned from multiple back surgeries to win the 2019 Masters for his 15th major. His 82 titles on the PGA Tour is tied for the career record with Sam Snead. Since that LA crash, he has played 11 tournaments without being closer than 16 shots to the winner the four times he was able to finish 72 holes.
Friday's arrest comes as Woods was trying to decide if he was fit enough to play the Masters, which starts April 9. He also was to be in Augusta, Georgia, on April 5 to unveil a golf course project with Masters chairman Fred Ridley.
Woods also was days away from what was described as a “soft deadline” to decide whether to be the U.S. Ryder Cup captain for the 2027 matches in Ireland.
Woods, 50, had been working his way back to golf from a seventh back surgery in September.
His last official tournament was the British Open in 2024. Woods ruptured his Achilles tendon in March 2025 and that kept him off the course all season even before the back surgery. He managed to play in his indoor TGL golf league on Tuesday night.
He has remained deeply involved in PGA Tour affairs as chair of the Future Competition Committee that is restructuring the model of the tour.
This story has been updated to correct that Tiger Woods won his last Masters in 2019, not 2018.
Ferguson reported from Jacksonville, Florida. Associated Press writer Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu contributed.
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Tiger Woods leaves the Martin County Sheriff's Office jail facility following his involvement in a car crash where he was arrested on a DUI charge on Friday, March 27, 2026 (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Tiger Woods leaves the Martin County Sheriff's Office jail facility following his involvement in a car crash where he was arrested on a DUI charge on Friday, March 27, 2026 (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
This handout photo provided by the Martin County Sheriff's Office shows Tiger Woods, in Stuart, Fla., Friday, March 27, 2026. (Martin County Sheriff's Office via AP)
This photo provided by the Martin County Sheriff's Office shows skid marks near the overturned vehicle in a rollover crash which involved Tiger Woods in Jupiter Island, Fla., on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Martin County Sheriff's Office via AP)
This photo provided by the Martin County Sheriff's Office shows the overturned vehicle in a rollover crash which involved Tiger Woods in Jupiter Island, Fla., on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Martin County Sheriff's Office via AP)
This photo provided by the Martin County Sheriff's Office shows skid marks near the overturned vehicle in a rollover crash which involved Tiger Woods in Jupiter Island, Fla., on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Martin County Sheriff's Office via AP)
This photo provided by the Martin County Sheriff's Office shows skid marks near the overturned vehicle in a rollover crash which involved Tiger Woods in Jupiter Island, Fla., on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Martin County Sheriff's Office via AP)
Tiger Woods of the Jupiter Links Golf Club plays his shot from the second tee the TGL finals golf tournament in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Golfer Tiger Woods stands by his overturned vehicle in Jupiter Island, Fla., on Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jason Oteri)
Golfer Tiger Woods stands by his overturned vehicle in Jupiter Island, Fla., Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jason Oteri)
Golfer Tiger Woods stands by his overturned vehicle in Jupiter Island, Fla., on Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jason Oteri)
Tiger Woods of the Jupiter Links Golf Club plays a shot from a bunker on the eighth hole, during final day of TGL golf tournament, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens Fla. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
