Julian Reese poured in 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting and Maryland clamped down on host Rutgers for a 63-46 win Sunday afternoon in Piscataway, N.J.
The Terrapins (15-13, 7-10 Big Ten) held Rutgers without a made field goal for 11:37 spanning the first and second halves. The Scarlet Knights missed 10 straight shots in that time, as the Terrapins went on to outshoot them 41.2 percent to 37.0 percent from the floor in the teams’ second low-scoring affair this month.
Maryland avenged a 56-53 home loss to Rutgers on Feb. 6.
Jahmir Young had 12 points and nine assists, Jordan Geronimo paired 11 points with 11 rebounds and Donta Scott added 11 points and seven rebounds as Maryland snapped a two-game slide. The Terrapins also outrebounded the Scarlet Knights 42-29.
Aundre Hyatt scored 13 points to lead Rutgers (14-13, 6-10), which lost its third straight contest. The Scarlet Knights matched their season-low point total from a 61-46 home loss to Penn State on Jan. 31.
Maryland established an early 12-6 edge on DeShawn Harris-Smith’s three-point play. Rutgers responded with an 8-1 run, with Mawot Mag’s layup giving the Scarlet Knights a one-point lead at the 10:32 mark.
After Maryland scored five straight, Rutgers’ Jeremiah Williams fed Antwone Woolfolk for a layup to cut the deficit to 18-16 at 7:21.
The Scarlet Knights proceeded to miss their final six field-goal tries of the half while committing two turnovers. Geronimo, Young and Scott took turns draining 3-pointers to help Maryland finish the half on a 10-0 run and take a 30-18 lead.
Maryland’s defense held firm to start the second half, only allowing points on two technical-oul free throws while growing the margin to 20. Clifford Omoruyi’s lay-in finally ended Rutgers’ dry spell with 15:43 to play, but Reese then earned a three-point play for Maryland’s largest lead at 43-22.
The Scarlet Knights made a push midway through the second half to cut that margin to 10. Oskar Palmquist’s three-point play and dunk got things moving, and Jeremiah Williams and Austin Williams then combined for four straight layups, making the score 47-37 with 10:31 to play.
Maryland scored the next seven points and limited Rutgers to three made field goals the rest of the way.
–Field Level Media