Maryland to Face Top-Seeded Michigan in B1G Quarters

Friday, March 12

Indianapolis, Ind.

11:30 AM

Maryland

Michigan

3/11/2021 7:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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Maryland (16-12) vs. #4 Michigan (19-3)
March 12, 2021
Lucas Oil Stadium
11:30 am EDT

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The 8th-seeded Maryland men's basketball team is set to face top-seeded Michigan Friday morning in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. It will mark the first meeting in Big Ten Tournament history between the Terrapins and Wolverines.

MICHIGAN STORYLINES

HOW WE GOT HERE

Maryland advanced to the quarterfinals and solidified their spot in the NCAA Tournament by handily defeating Michigan State Thursday, 68-57. The Terrapins held the Spartans without a field goal for a span of 11:57 spanning the first and second halfs. Junior Eric Ayala led the way with team-highs in points (21), rebounds (9) and assists (4), while setting the program Big Ten Tournament record in free throws made (10). Ayala was the first Terrapin to lead the team in points, rebounds and assists since Melo Trimble against Northwestern on March 10, 2017 - also in the Big Ten Tournament.

DARRYL WINS DPOY

Senior Darryl Morsell was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Tuesday as voted upon by the Big Ten's 14 coaches. He is the first player in the program history to win the award. In addition, Morsell, Eric Ayala and Aaron Wiggins each earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors.

The Maryland Terrapins play Michigan State at the Xfinity Center on February 28, 2021.

DEVASTATING DEFENSE

Over its last 13 games dating back to Jan. 23, Maryland's defensive field goal percentage is .371, including a .309 mark from beyond the arc. It is the best defensive percentage in the Big Ten during that 12-game span, with Purdue in second at .397 (see chart page 3). Opponents have been held under 62 points in 10 of those 13 games.

WIGGINS ON FIRE

Junior guard Aaron Wiggins is averaging 18.1 points on .504 shooting, in addition to 6.8 rebounds over his last nine games. He has connected on at least six field goals in seven of those nine games. He has scored at least 15 poiints in seven of his last nine games.