EVANSTON, IL – Eric Ayala led Maryland to its first conference win of the season as the Terps downed the Northwestern Wildcats, 94-87 in double overtime, on Wednesday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Terps (9-7, 1-4 Big Ten) were led by Ayala, who posted his first-career double-double with a career-high 26 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Fatts Russell scored 21 of his season-high 23 points in the second half and two overtime periods. 

Hakim Hart (18 points), and Donta Scott (17 points) also scored in double-figures. 

The Terps took control in the second overtime as Hart and Russell hit back-to-back jumpers to give Maryland an 89-85 lead with 3:10 left in the period. Maryland's defense buckled down in the second OT, holding Northwestern to just four points over the five-minute span. The Terps grabbed three consecutive offensive rebounds in the final two minutes of the period to keep possession. Russell added three free throws in the final 46 seconds to secure the win.

In the first overtime, Russell tied the game at 83-83 with 34.3 seconds left as he finished a three-point play after the Terps trailed by four points with 1:30 left in the first extra session.

Ayala scored 16 points in the second half and overtime, knocking down 3-of-6 three-pointers. Overall, he was 7-of-17 from the floor in the game, making 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. 

The game featured 21 lead changes with neither team leading by more than two possessions the entire game. A late 9-2 run pushed Maryland in front at 68-62 with 2:22 left in the game. Northwestern scored six points in a four-second span to tie the game with 11 seconds left in regulation at 72-72. Ayala missed a three-pointer at the buzzer as the game headed to overtime. 

Northwestern (8-6, 1-4) was led by Pete Nance, who had a double-double with a career-high 28 points and 14 rebounds. 

Breaking Down The Action

• The first half was a tight battle as Maryland fell behind early, but the team never let the Wildcats build a lead larger than six (17-11). The Terps would then use a 7-0 run capped off by an and-one by Ayala to go up 21-19 with 5:25 left in the first half. The two teams would trade baskets as they went into halftime tied at 30-30. Both Ayala and Hart scored 10 points for Maryland in the first 20 minutes.
• The back-and-forth action continued into the second half, with Russell hitting two deep three-point shows as Maryland took a 41-40 lead with 14:52 remaining. Ayala would catch fire from three-point range as his fourth three of the game gave the Terps a 56-52 lead with just under eight minutes remaining in the game. Ayala's hot half continued as he would knock down a total of three three-pointers in the second half en route to a career night, but a late comeback by Northwestern gave the Wildcats the come-from-behind win. 
• The overtime session was an equally tight contest, with Russell's aforementioned basket tying the game late. Northwestern had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but Russell stole the ball and nearly connected on a half-court game-winner. 
• The second overtime is where the Terps defense shined, holding Northwestern to just four times. Russell's 10 points over the two overtime sessions would ultimately lift Maryland to the victory. 

Overtime, FIrst Time In A While

• Maryland played its first overtime game 1,501 days. 
• The Terps' last overtime game came on Dec. 3, 2017, a 92-91 win at Illinois. 
• This was Maryland's first double-overtime game since its first-ever Big Ten Conference game, a 68-66 win at Michigan State on Dec. 30, 2014, 2,570 days ago. 

Double-Figure Update

• Ayala (26 points) has scored in double-figures in 13 games this season and now has 64 in his career. He has scored 10 or more in eight consecutive games. 
• Russell (23 points) hit double-figures for the 13th time this season and 89th time in his career. 
• Hart (18 points) scored in double figures for the eighth time this season and 16th time in his career. He has also scored 10 or more in eight consecutive games. 
• Scott (17 points) scored in double-figures for the 10th time this season and 33rd time in his career.

Eyes on Ayala 

• Eric Ayala had his fifth 20-plus point game this season and 13th of his career with 26 points.
• Ayala moved to 31st on the all-time scoring list at Maryland with 26 points in the game. He now has 1,253 as he passed Jim O'Brien (1970-73; 1235 points) and Lee Brawley (1948-52; 1243). Next on the list at No. 30 is Bob Kessler, who scored 1,266 from 1953-56. 
• Ayala also hit five 3-pointers to give him 190 in his career, moving him to seventh on the all-time list moving ahead of Johnny Rhodes, who had 186 from 1992-96. No. 6 on the list is Eric Hayes, who had 196 from 2006-10. 

Series History

• Maryland is 10-3 against Northwestern since joining the Big Ten Conference in 2014-15 and 11-4 all-time.
• The Terps are 7-1 all-time at Welsh-Ryan Arena. 

Notables

• Maryland's 94 points were the most the Terps have scored in a Big Ten conference game since beating Ohio State, 100-65, on Jan. 16, 2016. These 94 points are the second-most Maryland scored in a regular-season Big Ten conference game since the Terps joined the conference in 2014-15. 
• Maryland has now won 47 straight games when scoring 80+ points (Last loss: at UNC, 12/1/15).
• Russell's seven assists were his most this season, and most as a Terp, his high at Rhode Island was 10, most recently set last season. 
• Xavier Green had eight rebounds, a season-high and a high at Maryland. He had 10 rebounds at Old Dominion back in 2019. 
• The Terrapins are 8-0 when Hakim Hart has at least two steals in a game. He had two at Northwestern. 
• The Terrapins are 9-1 when making more free throws than their opponent. Maryland had 24 to Northwestern's 14 in the game.

Up Next

• The Terps will return home for a conference matchup against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on January 15, at 2 p.m. 
• The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network and the Maryland Sports Radio Network