COLLEGE PARK, MD – With the 2002 National Champions in the house, Maryland topped No. 22 Ohio State 75-60 at XFINITY Center on Sunday. It was Maryland's third win over a ranked team this season as the Terps moved to 14-15 overall and 6-12 in the Big Ten. 

Fatts Russell scored a season-high 27 points including the 2000th of his college career. It was also his 100th career game in double-figures, including 24 this season. 

Eric Ayala scored 23 points, including 13 in the first half. Ayala had three steals, which tied his career-high, along with six rebounds. 

Donta Scott tallied 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds. 

Maryland took a 17-16 lead midway through the first half and never relinquished the advantage. The Terps' defense limited Ohio State to just 36 percent from the floor, Buckeyes were shooting 48 percent on the season entering the game. 

Ohio State (18-8, 11-6) was led by Malaki Branham, who scored 13 points.


From The Coach

"It was a very special day for Maryland basketball. To have the 2002 National Champions back in the building is a lot of fun. Their energy that we were able to feed off of, I thought the student section was amazing in the juice that they supported us with and I thought we gave them something to cheer for. Eric and Fatts played the way that they played, scoring the basketball...it was a great, great effort from everyone on our team. We're all happy and proud with the effort that they played with tonight." 


Honoring The 2002 Champs

• Maryland welcomed back the 2002 Maryland Men's Basketball National Championship team as it celebrated its 20th Anniversary.
• Hall of Fame head coach Gary Williams, in addition to star players Juan Dixon, Lonny Baxter and Steve Blake, and nearly the entire team and staff were honored throughout the day. 
• The Terrapins memorably defeated a string of previous National Champions in the NCAA Tournament on their run to the title: Wisconsin, Kentucky, Connecticut, Kansas, and Indiana.

Breaking Down The Action

• Maryland scored the first eight points of the game including three-pointers by Russell and Donta Scott. After the teams traded the lead several times midway through the second half, Ayala took over as he scored 11 consecutive Terrapin points as Maryland took a 29-24 lead with less than four minutes left in the half.  The Terps led at halftime 32-28. 
• Both teams came out hot in the second half, with Maryland shooting 60% from the field through the first 7:22 out of the break. A three pointer from Russell put the Terps up by six (52-46) with 9:42 left in the half as both teams looked to gain the late momentum. A missed shot by Ayala, tip-out by Scott, and immediate three from Russell put Maryland up eight (61-53) with just over six minutes left, bringing the packed XFINITY Center to its feet. A stepback three from Ayala with the shot clock dwindling followed it, putting Maryland up 64-53, and the team would never look back. 

Beating Ranked Teams

• The Terps knocked off a ranked team for the third time this season. 
• The Terps beat then-No. 20 Florida, 70-68, on Dec. 12 in Brooklyn. Maryland also beat then-No. 17 Illinois, 81-65, on Jan. 21 in College Park. 

20-20

• With Fatts Russell and Eric Ayala scoring 20-plus points, it was the first time since Jan. 25, 2022 that Maryland had two players score 20-plus points. 
• In the game at Rutgers, Russell scored 23 and Ayala had 22 in that game. 

2,000 For Fatts

• Graduate student guard Fatts Russell scored his 2,000th career point with a three-pointer, 2:49 into the first half to put Maryland ahead 8-0 to open the game. 
• Russell scored 1,594 in his three seasons at Rhode Island and now 404+TODAY at Maryland. 
• He currently stands as the only active Division I player with 1,900 points, 500 assists and 225 steals.

Double-Figure Update

• Russell (27 points) hit double-figures for the 24th time this season, including the last 12 games in a row, and the 100th time in his career.  It was his eighth game with 20-plus points this season and the fifth time in six games. It was his 39th career game with 20-plus points. 
• Ayala (23 points) has scored in double-figures in 20 games this season and now has 71 in his career. 
• Scott (14 points) scored 10-plus for the 21st time this season and 44th time in his career. 

Series History

• Maryland now leads the series with Ohio State, 10-8, beating the Buckeyes for the first time since 67-55 at XFINITY Center on Jan. 7, 2020. 
• The Terps are now 5-1 all-time at XFINITY against Ohio State. 

Up Next 

• The Terps take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Wednesday, March 2, at 9 p.m. inside XFINITY Center in its final home game of the season and the team's Senior Night. 
• Senior Eric Ayala along with graduate students Fatts Russell, Xavier Green, and Simon Wright will all be honored pre-game.