Maryland Returns Home to Battle Rutgers

Maryland (9-7, 1-4) vs. Rutgers (9-6, 3-2)
January 15, 2021
XFINITY Center
2:00 pm EDT

COLLEGE PARK, MD - The Maryland men's basketball team is seeking its second Big Ten victory in three days Saturday as it welcomes Rutgers to College Park for a 2:00 pm tip on Big Ten Network and the Maryland Sports Radio Network.

RUTGERS STORYLINES

FIRST B1G WIN SECURED

Maryland picked up its first Big Ten win of the season Wednesday night, when it went on the road to defeat Northwestern in a thrilling double overtime victory, 94-87.
It was Maryland's first double overtime game since its first-ever Big Ten game on Dec. 30, 2014, when it defeated Michigan State, 68-66

Northwestern Wildcats vs Maryland Terrapins Big Ten Basketball at Welsh-Ryan Arena Wednesday, January 12, 2022 in Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern Athletics Photo by John Konstantaras | http://JohnKonPhoto.com

Ayala finding his form

All-Big Ten senior guard Eric Ayala recorded his first career double-double in the win over Northwestern, tallying career-highs in points (26) and rebounds (11). Ayala is the first Maryland guard with 26 points and 11 rebounds in a game since Greivis Vasquez recorded 35 points and 11 rebounds against UNC on Feb. 21, 2009.
Ayala is averaging 20.1 points over his last seven games, shooting .484 from the field and .479 from beyond the arc. Ayala ranks seventh in program history with 190 career 3-pointers.

PLAYING WITH HART

Junior guard Hakim Hart is averaging 13.0 points and shooting 49-of-83 (.556) from the field over the last nine games.
He has reached double-figures in every game during that nine-game span, after reaching the mark just nine times in his first 55 collegiate games.
The Terrapins are 8-0 when Hart notches at least two steals in a game this season.

NCAA MBB: Maryland Terrapins vs. Brown Bears at XFINITY Center in College Park, MD on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021. Joe Noyes/Maryland Terrapins

LIVING AT THE LINE

Maryland currently leads the Big Ten in both free throws made (250) and free throws attempted (342), and ranks 14th and 17th in the country respectively.
The effort has been led by Fatts Russell and Eric Ayala, who both rank in the top-7 in the conference in free throws attempted.

GETTING THE LEAD

Maryland has led in the second half of all fIVE of its Big Ten Conference contests.
In fact, Maryland has led in the second half of all but one of its losses the entire season (George Mason - 11/17).

Fatts Russell (4)Maryland Terrapins vs. Wisconsin Badgers at XFINITY Center in College Park, MD on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. Zach Bland/Maryland Terrapins

SERIES HISTORY

The Terrapins are 12-5 all-time against the Scarlet Knights, including a 9-2 advantage since both teams joined the Big Ten in 2014-15.
Maryland led throughout the most recent meeting on Feb. 21, 2021 in Piscataway, where Eric Ayala (14), Hakim Hart (12) and Donta Scott (11) each scored double-figures in a 68-59 victory.

The Maryland Terrapins play the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Xfinity Center on December 14, 2020.

Click here for this week's game notes.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Eric Ayala: G; 6' 5"; Senior

#13 Hakim Hart: G; 6' 8"; Junior

#24 Donta Scott: F; 6' 8"; Junior

#4 Fatts Russell: G; 5' 11"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

#5 Eric Ayala
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G

#13 Hakim Hart
: 6' 8"; Junior
: G

#24 Donta Scott
: 6' 8"; Junior
: F

#4 Fatts Russell
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student
: G