Through the first 10 minutes, Rutgers shot 25% from the field and 17% from the field, prompting Maryland to take a 22-9 lead. Maryland sat back in a 3-2 zone defense, forcing Rutgers to shoot and try to make perimeter shots. The Terps took advantage of Rutgers’ cold shooting, exploding on an 11-0 run capped off by a Julian Reese slam that forced a timeout from Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights started 3-for-3 from the field to open the game and then went ice cold, missing its next nine shots. While Maryland’s offense wasn't particularly efficient in the early going, its defense was phenomenal in limiting Rutgers on its home court. It boded well for the Terps, who got off to an early 11-7 lead while establishing their presence inside the paint. Wahab had Maryland’s first six points after scoring just four points in the first time these two teams met.Īfter three straight games of switching up the starting lineup to send a message to his stars, interim head coach Danny Manning reverted back to the lineup that started the first 16 games of the season. Maryland’s game plan early was clear: feed the post and get center Qudus Wahab involved. “I thought this was one of those games where we played tip to horn in a very unique and difficult place to play,” interim head coach Danny Manning said. The Terps backcourt duo of Russell and senior guard Eric Ayala led the way in its second straight win, combining for 45 points and 10 made threes.
#RUTGERS BASKETBALL SERIES#
Phenomenal shooting and a barrage of triples led Maryland to a 68-60 win at Rutgers on Tuesday, splitting the season series with the Scarlet Knights and avenging its second-half collapse against Rutgers just 10 days ago. Point guard Fatts Russell found himself with the ball near the right wing, stepped back and splashed in his fourth three of the game, a season-best for Russell and a crucial basket that extended Maryland’s lead to 14, one it would never relinquish. With Maryland men’s basketball leading by 10 and the ball in its hands, it was in desperate need of a bucket to silence the reenergized Rutgers crowd and avoid a second-half collapse that haunted it the first time these teams met this season.