The Terps won their second consecutive conference game.
Maryland men’s basketball improved to 3-3 in Big Ten play and 13-4 overall Monday night with a 77-71 win over Minnesota.
The Terps trailed for much of the game, but strong performances from Derik Queen, Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Rodney Rice guided them to victory.
Here are three takeaways from the game.
A poor first half nearly cost the Terps
Maryland trailed by eight points late in the first half and was losing at halftime for just the second time this season. The Gophers did not protect the ball or rebound well to create advantageous situations — they simply made their shots.
Minnesota searched for mismatches in the paint and found open shooters beyond the 3-point arc. The Gophers capitalized, making 55.6% of their attempts from 3-point range. Senior forward Dawson Garcia was exemplary of both cases. Standing at 6-foot-11, Garcia had a height advantage over every Terp, taking advantage of switches while shooting 2 for 3 from 3-point range in the first half. He recorded 12 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in the opening 20 minutes.
Minnesota also shot 50% from the field and 100% from the free-throw line in the half.
The Gophers could have led by much more at the break, but were held back for multiple reasons. They committed 11 turnovers in the first half, four more than Maryland. While Minnesota lost multiple possessions, the Terps often failed to capitalize, scoring just 11 points off turnovers in the half — three more than Minnesota. The Gophers also allowed five offensive rebounds.
But Maryland’s saving grace came at the end of the half in the form of Derik Queen. The freshman went on a 7-0 run of his own, making an and-1 layup and soaring for a fast-break dunk.
Queen took over
Queen was a dominant force in the second half following his crucial late first-half run. He scored just two points through the first 17 minutes of action, but ended the game with a career-high 27 — 18 of which came in the second half — seven rebounds, two assists and a block.
Queen used his size and finesse in the paint to generate scoring opportunities and draw fouls. He shot 10-of-15 (66.7%) from the field and 7-of-8 (87.5%) from the free-throw line. Queen knocked down multiple mid-range jumpers and flushed a few fast-break dunks, flashing a level of athleticism he hasn’t shown much of this year.
He’s been extremely streaky in conference play, and Monday further exemplified that. At Queen’s best, he is an unstoppable offensive force and one of the best players in the conference. But still a freshman, Queen has put up his fair share of stinkers in Big Ten play, with just four points against Washington and eight points against UCLA.
While his debut season has been impressive, Queen’s consistency may determine how far the Terps can go.
The Terps stacked conference wins
Maryland has now won consecutive conference games for the first time this season, defeating then-No. 22 UCLA on Friday before downing Minnesota.
Monday’s result was a bit expected, though. The Gophers entered the game with an 8-8 overall record and 0-5 conference record, having lost to Michigan State, Wisconsin, No. 17 Purdue and Indiana by at least 15 points.
Regardless, the Terps’ win streak could not have come at a better time after losing momentum on a rough West Coast road trip. After blowing out Ohio State and narrowly falling to Purdue, the Terps were expected to defeat Washington and then use their game against then-No. 9 Oregon as a measuring stick. But Maryland lost both games, collapsing late in each.
The Terps win over UCLA earned them 11 votes in this week’s Associated Press top-25 poll, and Monday’s result added another plus to their résumé. Maryland takes on Northwestern and Nebraska before the next poll is released, and positive showings in both games could garner the Terps a ranking for the first time since 2023.