Ayala, Russell, Lead Terps To 70-68 Win Over No. 20 Florida In Brooklyn

Sunday, December 12

Brooklyn, NY

4:30 PM

Maryland

6-4,0-1Big Ten

Florida

7-3,0-0SEC

Team	1	2	F
Florida	33	35	68
Maryland	33	37	70

Ayala, Russell, Lead Terps To 70-68 Win Over No. 20 Florida In Brooklyn

12/12/2021 5:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

BROOKLYN, NY – The Maryland men's basketball team won its first game under interim head coach Danny Manning as it took down the No. 20 Florida Gators 70-68 in the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational. The Terps (6-4) were led by Eric Ayala (19 points) and Fatts Russell (19 points) as the guard-duo combined for 38 points.

Donta Scott's jump shot with 16 seconds remaining proved to be the game-winner as it gave Maryland a 70-68 lead and Florida's Tyree Appleby's potential game-winning three at the buzzer was no good.

It was Maryland's first win over a ranked non-conference opponent since beating No. 13 Iowa State, 72-63, on Nov. 25, 2014 in Kansas City, the Terps' first season in the Big Ten.

The Terps had four players in double-figures with Donta Scott (12) and Hakim Hart (11) adding the Maryland offensive output. The Terps also received a strong showing from the three-point line, shooting 8-of-13 with Ayala connecting on 3-of-5 triples.

The game was within two possessions much of the afternoon, with neither team leading by more than five points until Russell hit a three-pointer with 6:26 left in the game, giving Maryland a seven-point edge at 59-52, but Florida answered with back-to-back treys by Tyree Appleby. There were 11 lead changes and six ties in the game.

Florida (7-3) was led by Phlandrous Fleming Jr., posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Appleby scored 15 points, hitting 5-of-7 three-pointers. Maryland held Colin Castleton to a season-low nine points.

Breaking Down The Action

The Terps started the game 3-for-4 from the field, taking a 10-8 lead with 14:12 remaining in the half. Maryland's defense proceeded to give the Gators fits, and the Terps took advantage as they took a 21-17 lead with 7:07 left in the half. A quick 6-0 run by the Gators gave Florida a 23-21 lead, but Hakim Hart's and-one allowed Maryland to retake the lead (24-23) with 4:56 remaining. Overall a 7-0 run by the Terps gave the team a 31-26 lead, but Florida would respond with a run of their to tie the game at 33 heading into halftime.
Maryland went on a 6-0 run to take a 41-39 lead with 16:24 remaining and later held Florida without points for over a two-minute stretch. However, the team couldn't build a lead as Florida kept the game tight. After the Russell three-pointer that made it a seven point game, Florida went on a 6-0 run in just 13 seconds to cut the lead to 59-58 with 5:48 remaining. After Florida took the lead on an Appleby three-pointer with just over a minute left, Russell answered with three points the old fashioned way to give Maryland the lead again. After Florida tied it, Scott's jumper from the post gave Maryland the lead for good as their defense locked down the Gators on the final possession.

Double Figure Update

Ayala (19 points) has scored in double-figures in eight games this season and now has 59 in his career.
Russell (19 points) hit double-figures for the eighth time this season and 84th time in his career.
Scott (12 points) scored in double-figures for the fifth time this season and 28th time in his career.
Hart (11 points) scored in double figures for the fourth time this season and 12th time in his career.

Series History

Sunday's meeting marks just the fourth matchup in history between Maryland and Florida. In the most recent meeting, the Terrapins memorably defeated the top-ranked Gators, 69-68, in overtime, in Gainesville on Dec. 10, 2003.
Nik Caner-Medley posted 22 points and 13 boards while Travis Garrison hit a jumper with 18 seconds remaining to secure Gary Williams' 300th career victory at Maryland.

Up Next

The Terps will return home and take on the Loyola Greyhounds on Tuesday, Dec. 28 at 8:30 p.m. inside the XFINITY Center.
The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network and on the Maryland Sports Radio Network.

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