The Terps currently sit in third place in the Big Ten standings.
No. 13 Maryland men’s basketball faced a straightforward challenge: defeat No. 17 Michigan on the road, and it would move within one win of securing a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament.
The Terps rose to the occasion, marching into Crisler Center and knocking off the Wolverines, 71-65. Rodney Rice led the way with 19 points on 6-of-14 shooting.
Here are three takeaways from the game.
An uncharacteristic finish
Maryland’s win over Michigan didn’t stand out for anything unusual on the court — except for one key detail. The Terps didn’t make a single field goal in the final 6:02 of regulation.
So how did they still manage to close out the game?
Their last field goal came on a Julian Reese driving layup, giving Maryland a 61-57 lead. From there, the Terps went cold. Misses by Rice, Derik Queen and Reese on ensuing possessions left them scoreless from the field. Their only points came at the free-throw line, where Queen and Reese drew fouls and converted. Still, Reese had another tough offensive night, finishing with just six points and missing a dunk with 1:38 left.
Despite their late-game shooting struggles, Maryland dominated inside. The Terps collected 11 offensive rebounds and scored 17 second-chance points, finding success against 7-footer Vladislav Goldin. Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Rice consistently set up easy looks for their big men with well-placed bounce passes.
In the end, Maryland sealed the win at the free-throw line, going 10-of-13 from the stripe in the final six minutes.
Defensively, the Terps were just as effective. They held Michigan to eight points in the final six minutes, thanks to strong rebounding and disciplined defense on Goldin and fellow 7-footer Danny Wolf.
Selton Miguel was the spark
The fifth-year forward has been Maryland’s spark plug all season, delivering energy and quick scoring when the team needs it most. On Wednesday, he lived up to that reputation.
The Terps opened the game ice-cold, hitting just 2 of their first 10 shots. Struggling to find rhythm and stifled by Michigan’s size inside, they needed a jolt. Miguel provided it.
Trailing 14-12 midway through the first half, he scored Maryland’s next 10 points, drilling two jumpers and two threes. On one of his deep shots, he stared down the defender before rising up and sinking a contested three — hand in his face, no problem.
Though he cooled off later, Miguel still finished with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting. More importantly, his solo surge gave Maryland a lead it never relinquished.
While he isn’t viewed as the same offensive threat as Gillespie or Queen, that works to his advantage. He’ll likely face fewer defensive adjustments and find more open looks. As the postseason looms, his role as an X-factor grows even more crucial.
Michigan’s bigs gave the Terps trouble
Michigan’s 7-foot duo of Goldin and Wolf led the way Wednesday, each scoring 20 points. Wolf added eight rebounds, while Goldin dominated the glass with 15 boards.
Goldin struggled early, shooting just 3-for-11 in the first half for six points — even attempting an uncharacteristic 3-pointer. But he found his rhythm after the break, pouring in 14 second-half points on 5-of-6 shooting, helping Michigan claw within two points.
Goldin didn’t need flashy moves, his sheer reach allowed him to finish over Queen repeatedly. Queen could only watch as several of Goldin’s high-arcing floaters fell through the net.
Wolf, on the other hand, brought a more versatile attack. Unlike Goldin, he stretched the floor, forcing defenders to step out. A step-back 3-pointer electrified the crowd, showing off his ability to score at all levels.
Reese, a dominant paint defender, was less effective against a floor-spacing big like Wolf. Recognizing the mismatch, head coach Kevin Willard adjusted, rotating defenders and inserting Jordan Geronimo for his defensive versatility. Geronimo delivered one of his best performances of the year, racking up four points, a block and a steal in just 16 minutes.
With the postseason looming, Maryland’s ability to handle elite big men could be a deciding factor in its success.