DENVER >> Michigan guard Roddy Gayle Jr. knew it was only a matter of time.

Amid a turbulent and trying season, Gayle kept plugging away and pushed through a couple of challenging months, trusting that a breakthrough was coming.

“I feel like I was due for a big moment, especially like this under the bright lights,” he said.

Gayle turned in his best outing in a Michigan uniform in a season-saving performance at Ball Arena. He poured in a season-high 26 points and spearheaded Saturday’s 91-79 comeback win over Texas A&M that kept the Wolverines dancing into the Sweet 16.

Gayle singlehandedly flipped the game midway through the second half, when he scored 12 consecutive points for the Wolverines (27-9) during a four-minute stretch that helped wipe out a 10-point deficit.

He got downhill and finished at the rim. He sought contact and got to free-throw line. He dialed it in from deep and traded baskets with Texas A&M standout guard Wade Taylor IV.

When Taylor hit a crowd-silencing 3-pointer, Gayle brought the Michigan fans back on their feet with a long-range shot and kick-started a 20-5 flurry that turned a six-point deficit into a nine-point lead.

“There was definitely a look in his eye and within the game you really saw it,” guard Nimari Burnett said. “You saw his aggressiveness. You saw his mentality that he wasn’t going to stop. Man, it’s amazing to see, especially with how the year can have so many ups and downs. He was able to stay the course and rise at the right moment.”

Even before Gayle’s dominant stretch, he hit a couple of shots that kept the Wolverines within striking distance when the Aggies were trying to pull away and push the lead past 10 points. After his blitz, he made four free throws during a game-ending 9-0 run that capped an 8-for-8 night at the stripe.

It was all part of a 21-point second-half eruption that topped his previous season high of 20 points and it was type of showing that many — Gayle included — expected when he transferred to Michigan from Ohio State in the offseason.

“I don’t think anyone in this locker room lost faith in him. Most importantly, he didn’t lose faith in himself,” forward Will Tschetter said. “He kept showing up, kept putting nose to the grindstone and just making things happen. When great players do that, things like (Saturday) happen.”

After the final horn sounded and the team went over to celebrate the win with the Michigan faithful in the stands, chants of “Roddy! Roddy! Roddy!” broke out.

More chants followed during a water-filled postgame celebration in the locker room, where Gayle had the honor of slapping the Michigan sticker for the next round onto the NCAA Tournament bracket board.

“I’m most happy because he deserves it, and then just to see his teammates never waver,” coach Dusty May said.

“He had a phenomenal game, but when he had a good, solid game, they were extremely happy for him, because of how much they believed in him and how much they knew we needed him if we were going to do something like this.

“He had a big moment at Ohio State, but you could see it. It wasn’t as if this is just a flash in the pan. He’s been moving up with incremental progress almost every single game. We’re not here today if he didn’t play as well as he did against UC San Diego. Happy for him, like I am with the rest of our guys, but I’m proud of them for not giving up on any of their teammates when things weren’t going well and piling it on.”

The same can’t be said for some fans, particularly on social media. Gayle received plenty of vitriol when he made the decision to enter the transfer portal and join a rival school.

He received even more hateful messages when he hit a lengthy rough patch that led to him being moved from the starting lineup to the bench in early February.

“You know how it goes. Everybody criticizes people in our shoes, but they’ve never been in them,” guard Tre Donaldson said. “He was down on himself, but he never stopped working.”

In the first 18 games, Gayle scored in double figures 14 times and made close to half of his shots. In the final 12 games of the regular season, he scored more than 10 points just twice and his shooting numbers plummeted.

He struggled mightily down the stretch — he made just four baskets and scored 12 points in four games — and was a nonfactor, as Michigan fell short in its quest for a Big Ten regular-season title.

Once postseason play began, Gayle started to turn things around. He scored 11 points in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinal win over Purdue. He snapped a miserable 13-game drought without a made 3-pointer against Maryland in the conference tournament semifinal.

Then after suffering a hamstring injury in the Big Ten tournament final against Wisconsin, he logged 27 minutes and chipped in 11 points four days later in the NCAA Tournament win over UC San Diego.

He followed that up with Saturday’s 26-point breakout, where he made a season-high four 3-pointers — he made three total since the new year — and scored the second-most points in a game in his college career.

“Earlier in the year he was a very high-level player, then he kind of lost his groove,” big man Danny Wolf said.

“He had a little bit of a slump, but every great player does. We knew he was eventually going to come out of it with how good he is and how hard he works. When we needed him most these last few weeks, he stepped up big time.”

Added Gayle: “(Fans) called me a double agent for choosing Michigan after going to Ohio State. I feel like I beat those allegations.”

Gayle noted he was questionable to play against UC San Diego. His hamstring was “pretty tight” leading up to the game. His goal was to feel at least 85% and let adrenaline take care of the rest.

Considering how his teammates never stopped believing in him during his low points and kept encouraging him throughout a season that’s been a “rollercoaster of emotions,” he was going to do whatever he could to be there for them.

“It’s some of these guys’ last time playing college basketball, so I feel like I need to give my mind, body and soul to the game,” he said. “Luckily, I was rewarded.”

Seeing Gayle step into the spotlight and shine on the big stage after all he’s been through was just as rewarding for the Wolverines.

“Rod got his mojo back,” Tschetter said.

“March Rod is here. He’s here to stay.”