IOWA CITY, IA – The Maryland men's basketball team suffered an 80-75 defeat to Iowa on Monday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Terps (8-5, 0-2 Big Ten) were led by Eric Ayala (19 points) and Fatts Russell (16 points). 

Five Terps scored in double-figures with Qudus Wahab adding 12 points and seven rebounds, Hakim Hart tallying 11 points and eight rebounds, and Donta Scott scoring 11 points. 

Iowa (11-3, 1-2) won its fourth game in a row. The leading scoring in major college basketball, Keegan Murray (23.7 ppg entering the game), led Iowa and tied his career-high with 35 points and eight rebounds. 

The game was within five points for the first 14 minutes of the second half before the Hawkeyes took control with a 9-0 run keyed by a Murray three-pointer with six minutes left in the game to put Iowa up 66-58 as they built a late double-figure lead.  

The Terps cut the deficit to two points (77-75) on an Ayala three-pointer with 10 seconds left, but Iowa held off Maryland making three free throws in the final seconds. 
The Terps outscored Iowa, 28-12, over the final 11:30 of the first half as Maryland buckled down on defense to lead 40-36 at intermission. Russell scored 10 of his 12 first-half points in that spurt. 


Breaking Down The Action

• After trailing 24-12 with 11:46 left in the first half, the Terps went on an 11-0 run, capped off by a three-pointer from Russell to make the score 24-23 with 8:41 left. Maryland took its first lead on yet another three by Russell which made the score 33-30 with just under six minutes left. Maryland would end up taking a 40-36 lead into intermission on the back of 12 points from Russell. 
• Both teams started the second half hot from the field, with Maryland holding onto a 51-49 lead at the under-16 timeout. After Iowa took the lead, Ayala hit a deep three to cut the deficit to just one (59-58) with just over nine minutes remaining. Murray and the Hawkeye offense would prove to be too much as they took control late, and held off the Terps to clinch the victory.

Double-Figure Update

• Ayala (19 points) has scored in double-figures in 11 games this season and now has 62 in his career. 
• Russell (16 points) hit double-figures for the 10th time this season and 86th time in his career. 
• Wahab (12 points) scored in double figures for the sixth time as a Terp and 29th time in his career. 
• Hart (11 points) scored in double figures for the seventh time this season and 15th time in his career.
• Scott (11 points) scored in double-figures for the eigth time this season and 31st time in his career.

Pouring In The First-Half Points

• Maryland led 40-36 at halftime, the fourth time this season the Terps held the edge at intermission. 
• The 40 points at halftime were the most by the Terps on the road in a conference game since scoring 40 at Illinois on Feb. 6, 2020. Maryland won that game, 75-66. 

Ayala's Scoring Run

• All-Big Ten senior guard Eric Ayala has scored at least 19 points in four consecutive games, shooting 26-of-50 (.520) from the field

Series History

• Maryland now holds a 7-6 advantage in the all-time series against Iowa, including wins in two of its last four games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Up Next

• The Terps will stay on the road and take on Illinois on Thursday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. ET.
• The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and on the Maryland Sports Radio Network