Field Level Media
Feb 21, 2021
Eric Ayala scored 14 points to lead five players in double figures and Maryland won its fourth straight game with a 68-59 defeat of Rutgers on Sunday in Piscataway, N.J.
The Terrapins (14-10, 8-9 Big Ten) led for the final 27:29 and limited the Scarlet Knights (12-9, 8-9) to 38.2 percent shooting from the field.
Aaron Wiggins posted a double-double with 13 and 10 rebounds for the Terrapins. Darryl Morsell and Hakim Hart scored 12 points each and Donta Scott added 11 as Maryland avenged a 74-60 home loss to Rutgers on Dec. 14.
Jacob Young led the Scarlet Knights with 19 points off the bench. He made 6 of 13 shots but appeared to injure his right leg on a drive to the hoop in the final minute.
Geo Baker added 12 points for Rutgers, who missed 17 of 22 shots from behind the arc and allowed 20 points off 15 turnovers. Leading scorer Ron Harper Jr. made only one field goal and was held to six points.
Rutgers held a 14-10 lead on a jumper by Young but Maryland outscored the Scarlet Knights 18-6 the rest of the half. The Terrapins took their first lead when Scott's jumper made it 16-14 with 10:46 remaining and Ayala capped a 9-0 run with a 3-pointer that made it 28-18 with 1:57 left.
Rutgers missed 11 straight 3-pointers until Baker's trey cut the lead to 45-33 with 10:40 to go and the Scarlet Knights were within 47-39 on a reverse one-handed dunk by Clifford Omoruyi with 8:50 left, prompting a Maryland 30-second timeout.
The Scarlet Knights got within 47-41 on two free throws by Montez Mathis with 7:37 remaining but Morsell hit a jumper and converted a transition dunk after a Myles Johnson turnover to make it 51-41 with 6:04 left.
Rutgers made one last comeback attempt getting within 57-49 on a three-point play by Mathis with 2:02 remaining but Maryland hit 11 free throws down the stretch to secure the road victory.
--Field Level Media