The Terps earned their fourth ranked win of the season.
Holding the highly-coveted fourth spot in the Big Ten standings, No. 13 Maryland men’s basketball traveled to No. 17 Michigan with serious postseason implications in play.
The Terps’ 11-point halftime lead was cut to two late in the second half, but they did not shrink in front of a loud, hostile crowd. Maryland defended with discipline and nailed crucial free throws down the stretch to secure a 71-65 win Wednesday at Crisler Center.
A win Saturday over Northwestern would secure a top-four seed and double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament for Maryland. Wednesday’s win also eliminated Michigan from the possibility of earning a share of the Big Ten regular season title.
Rodney Rice led the Terps with 19 points, while Derik Queen posted 17 points and 12 rebounds.
The second half was defined by Michigan runs and how well the Terps sustained them.
The Wolverines cut Maryland’s 12-point lead to five early in the second half, and followed it up with a 7-0 run. The Terps responded both times, though. Michigan found offensive success in the paint and on the perimeter, using 7-footers Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf’s gravity to create open looks, while Maryland lived and died by the 3-pointer.
The Terps answered Michigan’s initial run with consecutive threes, one hit by Ja’Kobi Gillespie, his first points of the game after starting 0 for 6 from the field. Gillespie hit another three and shushed the crowd to cool Michigan’s second run.
Maryland did not make a field goal in the final in the final six minutes of the game, but made 10-of-13 free throws to stay in front. The Terps finished the game shooting 24-of-63 (38.1%) from the field and 9-of-25 (36%) from three.
The start to Wednesday’s game looked almost identical to the Terps’ game a week ago against No. 8 Michigan State. Neither team hit double-digit points by the 12-minute mark and they started a combined 3-of-17 from the field and 1-of-5 from three.
Maryland hounded the Wolverines on defense, sending multiple defenders to the paint to help with Wolf and Goldin. Wolf still found success in the first half, though. He scored seven of Michigan’s first nine points, aiding a 14-7 Wolverine lead, and finished the half with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting, three rebounds and three assists.
Goldin received the brunt of Maryland’s aggressive defensive scheme. Julian Reese blocked him on the first play of the game and the Terps stole multiple entry passes. He totaled six points and six rebounds in the first half, but shot 3-of-11 from the field.
Goldin did not stay quiet for long. His 14-point second half helped the Wolverines crawl back into the game. Goldin and Wolf each contributed a game-high 20 points and combined for 23 rebounds and seven assists.
The Terps could not take advantage for most of the first half, though. They started the game 2 for 14 from the field, missing multiple open shots.
But then, Selton Miguel got hot. As he has done multiple times this season, Miguel went on a solo run, scoring 10 straight points for Maryland, capped off by a deep catch-and-shoot three. His burst helped the Terps quickly turn a seven-point deficit to a six-point lead.
Miguel cooled down, but still finished the game with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting and four steals.
Jordan Geronimo also provided a spark off the bench, slamming a one-handed dunk over Goldin before hitting a floater over Wolf to push Maryland’s lead to 10 points. Geronimo’s dunk marked the Terps’ first bench points since Feb. 20.
The Terps only scored three points in the final three minutes of the first half, but held a 33-22 halftime lead.
Despite multiple scores and Michigan runs, Maryland never forfeited its lead en rout to a crucial win.
Three things to know
1. Geronimo earned significant playing time. The graduate forward played 16 minutes Wednesday, the most time he’s seen the floor since Jan. 2 at Washington. Aside from his four points, Geronimo was crucial on defense and the glass. He recored a block, a steal and three rebounds, while also drawing an over-the-back foul.
2. Reese struggled on offense again. Over the last three games, Reese has scored 14 points on 6 for 24 shooting. While a brutal offensive stretch, he is still Maryland’s best defensive player, totaling three steals and two blocks Wednesday.
3. Another ranked win. Wednesday’s win was Maryland’s fourth over a ranked opponent this season. Projected as a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament prior to the game, according to ESPN, the Terps may earn a top-four seed in the national tournament depending on how the conference tournament plays out.