MINNEAPOLIS – No. 12 seed Maryland men's basketball pounded No. 13 seed Rutgers, 65-51, in the Big Ten Tournament First Round on Wednesday at Target Center. It was the fewest points allowed by Maryland in any conference tournament game since 1989.
Maryland (16-16) advanced to the second round and will play No. 5 seed Wisconsin on Thursday at 2:30 pm ET. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network.
The Terps had four players in double-figures led by
Donta Scott, who scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds as he made two three-pointers.
Julian Reese reached the 1,000-point scoring mark and became the 61st Terp to do so after Jahmir Young accomplished the feat earlier in the season. The junior finished with 12 points and six rebounds in his historic outing as he surpassed 1,000 points on a jumper with 8:46 left in the second half.
First Team All-Big Ten guard Jahmir Young had 11 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Freshman Jamie Kaiser, Jr. – making his fourth college start – scored in double-figures for the second game in a row with 11 points, making three three-pointers.
The Terps began the game on an 11-0 run and never looked back. They boasted a 36-22 halftime lead and led for the entirety of the game. For Rutgers, (15-17) the 22 points were the fewest the Terps allowed in the first half of a Big Ten Tournament game ever.
The Terps had their best defensive showing in a Big Ten Tournament game ever, holding Rutgers to just 51 points. Going back to the ACC Tournament, it was the fewest points allowed by the Terps in a game since beating No. 1 seed NC State, 71-49, in the 1989 ACC Quarterfinals.
This was the first-ever meeting between Rutgers and Maryland in the Big Ten Tournament.
Breaking Down The Action
- Maryland began the game on an 11-0 run forcing Rutgers to call a timeout. Donta Scott, Jamie Kaiser, Jr and DeShawn Harris-Smith all knocked down three-pointers for the first three buckets as well. The Terps made four of their first five shots from the floor.
- At the second media timeout, the Terps led 17-7. All five starters were in the scoring column and Kaiser had a game-high six points with two three-pointers.
- The Terrapins sparked another run later in the first half. This time, it was a 10-0 run that was led by Donta Scott. He scored six of the points as the Terps led 32-16 with 3:09 left in the half.
- The Terps led 36-22 at the half. Seven Terps were in the scoring column and they shot 4-8 from beyond the arch. The 22 points allowed were the fewest ever allowed by the Terps in the first half of a Big Ten Tournament game.
- Maryland made its last five shots at the first media timeout of the second half. Julian Reese and Scott were up to double-figure scoring and the Terps grabbed a 47-24 lead. It was their largest lead of the day.
- Jahari Long knocked down a three-pointer and was the eighth eight Terp to reach the scoring column. Maryland led 51-30 at 12:52 in the half.
- Reese hit a jumper at the 8:46 mark for his 1,000th point of his career. Scott scored right after and the Terps were on a 7-0 run. Maryland led 62-36 and was shutting down Rutgers' offense.
- The Terps closed out the game with its bench and cruised to a win without trailing at any point.
Willard's Take
"Really, really pleased with the way we bounced back," head coach
Kevin Willard said. "Obviously the last couple of games defensively we hadn't been what we were all season. These guys, I challenged them to come back defensively, and they answered the bell and were great defensively."
Young On The Key To Maintaining A Lead Throughout
"Just continue to share the ball [and] find the open man,"
Jahmir Young said. "It started on defense. Being able to limit them to one shot and getting out in transition where we're finding success. Just limit them to one shot, so we can get out and run."
Conference Tournament Marks
- The Terps had their best defensive game in Big Ten Tournament history, limiting Rutgers to 51 points. The previous low was set last season in the Quarterfinals, when Maryland beat Minnesota, 70-54 in 2023.
- The 51 points by Rutgers are also the fewest by a Maryland opponent in a conference tournament since the Terps upset No. 1 seed NC State in the 1989 ACC Quarterfinals, 71-49.
- Maryland held Rutgers to just 22 points in the first half, the fewest the Terps allowed in the first half of a Big Ten Tournament.
Big Ten Honors
- Four Terps received All-Big Ten Honors for the 2023-24 season.
- Jahmir Young was named All-Big Ten First Team. It was his second time receiving All-Big Ten team honors after making the second team last season
- It was the sixth time in program history a Terp was named to the All-Big Ten First Team. Melo Trimble (2014-15 & 2016-17), Bruno Fernando (2018-19), Jalen Smith (2019-20) and Anthony Cowan Jr. (2019-20) were the other Terps to do it.
- Young also represented Maryland for the 2023-24 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
- Donta Scott was named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. It was his second time receiving the honor after doing so last season.
- Julian Reese was also named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. It was also his second time receiving the honor after doing so last season.
- DeShawn Harris-Smith was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. He was the first selection since Jalen Smith in 2018-19 and the 12th Terp overall since 1992-93 to be named to a conference all-freshman team.
Double-Figure Factors
- Donta Scott (16 points) tallied double-figures for the 84th time over his five-year career and his 19th time this season.
- Julian Reese (12 points) had the 55th double-figure game of his career, with the junior doing so for the 26th time this season.
- Jahmir Young (11 points) dropped double-figures for the 136th time in his career and the 30th time in 31 games he's played this season. It's also the 27th game in a row that he's played and scored double-digits.
- Jamie Kaiser, Jr. (11 points) posted double-figures for the fifth time this season as a freshman. He has also notched double-figures in back-to-back games.
Fear The Jahmir
- With 11 points in the game, Jahmir Young added to his career scoring total and now has 2,608 points. He is the second-leading active scorer in the nation behind Texas' Max Abmas (3,084).
- Young entered Wednesday's game as the third-leading scorer in the Big Ten and the No. 22 scorer nationally at 20.8 points per game.
- Young is one of four active players with 2000 points, 700 rebounds and 450 assists. He holds career totals of 2,608 points, 774 rebounds and 499 assists.
- Against Rutgers on Feb. 6, Young became the sixth NCAA player since 2006 to post 1,000 points at two different institutions after scoring 1,421 at Charlotte from 2019-22. He now has 1,187 points in his two seasons at Maryland. He was the third-fastest player to reach that milestone and the fifth player in program history to do so in just two seasons.
- Young posted the 51st 500-point season in program history on Feb. 14. He now has 634 points this season which is a career-best and ranks 13th for a single season in program history.
- Young is looking to be the first Terp since Greivis Vasquez in 2009-10 to average over 20 points, four rebounds, and four assists per game. Entering the matchup, Young averages 20.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
Scott Climbing Up Charts
- Donta Scott scored 16 points, increasing his career total to 1,686 He is No. 14 on Maryland's all-time list and 19 points from passing Walt Williams (1988-92).
- Scott grabbed six rebounds to increase his career total to 857, which is ninth all-time. He's just three from passing Tom McMillen (1971-74) with 859 rebounds.
- Scott knocked down two three-pointers to bring his total to 211, which is fourth in program history. He's 13 from passing Eric Ayala (2018-22).
- Scott broke the program record for starts by passing Steve Blake (1999-2003) earlier this year. He added to that number with his 145th career start over his five-year career. It was also his 161st game as a Terp to add to his other record.
- Scott is one of five players in program history to have 1,500 points and 800 rebounds in a career. He joined Lonny Baxter (1,858 & 998), Tom McMillen (1,807 & 859), Keith Booth (1,776 & 916) and Terence Morris (1,733 & 925) earlier this year.
Juju Beast
- Julian Reese reached 1,000 career points in the game. He scored 12 to give him 1,000 in his career. He became the 61st player at Maryland to reach that milestone.
- Reese is No. 13 on Maryland's all-time blocks list. He blocked two shots on Wednesday to increase his career total to 123. He's three away from passing Alex Len (2011-13) and Obinna Ekezie (1995-99) who are tied with 125 career blocks.
- Reese is tied for 30th nationally in total rebounds (298) and ranks in the top-25 for a single season at Maryland. He is also No. 25 nationally and third in the Big Ten, averaging 9.7 rebounds per game.
- Reese is the only D-I player averaging 10.0+ points, 9.7+ rebounds, 1.90+ blocks and 1.00+ steals this season. In the last 25 years, the only other Big Ten player to put up these numbers was Michigan State's Xavier Tillman in 2019-20.
- Reese is one of two players in the Big Ten to have over 400 points, 275 rebounds and 50 blocks this season.
Big Ten Tournament History
- Since joining the conference in 2014-15, the Terps are now 5-8 all-time in Big Ten Tournament games with this victory.
- The Terps are now 1-0 in the first round, 2-2 in the second round, 2-3 in the quarterfinals, and 0-2 in the semifinals. The Terps reached the semifinals in both 2015 and 2016.
- This is the first time Maryland is a No. 12 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
- Including a 47-57 record in ACC Tournament action, the Terps are now 52-65 all-time in all conference tournament games between the ACC and Big Ten.
Numbers To Know
- 1: Entering the matchup, the Terps allowed 65.7 points per game, ranking first in the Big Ten and 23rd nationally.
- 2: Jamie Kaiser, Jr. scored in double digits in back-to-back games for the second time in his career.
- 4: Kaiser made his fourth career start for the Terps.
- 6: Maryland has had six All-Big Ten First Team players in its program's history after Jahmir Young took home the honor this season.
- 12: The Terps are 12th best nationally in defensive efficiency according to KenPom.com.
- 12: DeShawn Harris-Smith is the 12th Terp overall since 1992-93 to be named to a conference all-freshman team.
- 22: Maryland allowed 22 points in the first half, the fewest ever allowed by the Terps in a Big Ten Tournament.
- 51: The 51 points allowed by the Terps were the fewest allowed in a conference tournament game since the 1989 ACC Quarterfinals.
- 634: Jahmir Young's scoring total for the season, which is a career-best and ranks 13th in program history.
- 1,000: Julian Reese became the 61st Terp to score 1,000 points in a career.
- 2,608: Young's career points - 2nd most nationally for an active player.
Up Next
- Maryland will play No. 5 seed Wisconsin tomorrow, March 14 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The game is scheduled to tip at 2:30 PM ET and will be televised on Big Ten Network and will be carried on the Maryland Sports Radio Network.
