Russell, Ayala push Maryland over No. 22 Ohio State, 75-60
AP
Feb 27, 2022
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) Fatts Russell matched his career high with 27 points, Eric Ayala scored 23 and Maryland Terrapins took down No. 22 Ohio State Buckeyes 75-60 on Sunday.
The Terrapins (14-15, 6-12 Big Ten) had lost six of their previous eight. But they wore down the Buckeyes (18-8, 11-6) and held them to 36.2% from the field.
''They've got a lot of good players on their team, and we just had to contest their shots,'' said Donta Scott, who had 14 points, nine rebounds and three steals for Maryland.
Ohio State's E.J. Liddell, who entered the game as the Buckeyes' leading scorer by averaging 19.6 points, was held to 11 points. And freshman star Malaki Branham, who averaged 26.7 points in his previous three games, had only 13 to lead the Buckeyes.
''We weren't as prepared and ready as we should be,'' Ohio State forward Kyle Young said.
Maryland first took the lead with 8:07 to play in the first half after Ayala hit two free throws, which were the first of 11 straight points. The Terrapins had a 32-28 advantage at the half.
Branham hit a 3-pointer with 8:08 remaining in the game to cut Maryland's lead to 53-50. Ayala followed with a layup and, after a collision with Ohio State's Zed Key, two free throws to increase the lead to 57-50. Key injured his right ankle and had to be helped off the floor.
Russell and Ayala hit 3-pointers, and the Terps led 64-53 with 4:17 to play. Russell hit two 3-pointers as Maryland took a 75-57 lead with 1:18 to play.
''It's hard to win in this league,'' Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said. ''We just didn't bring enough.''
HOMELAND
Maryland forward Pavlo Dziuba was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and draped himself in the Ukrainian flag in the pre-game huddle. Dzuiba's teammates wore blue wristbands in sympathy.
''He has family members there, friends, people that he cares for,'' Maryland interim coach Danny Manning said. ''It's just to let him know, to support him, to love him and thoughts and prayers.''
LOOKING AHEAD
Young knows that the loss won't help Ohio State as it prepares for the postseason.
''We had a pretty good chance at a Big Ten championship and you lose a game on the road,'' he said. ''It hurts.''
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Maryland's 2002 national championship team was introduced late in the first half. Gary Williams, the Terrapins' longtime former coach, and his players spoke to the current team before the game.
''You felt their presence there,'' Russell said. ''Coach Williams said a couple words and he gave us motivation. When he talks, everybody listens. He's a legendary coach . We went out there and tried not to disappoint them.''
STAT OF THE GAME
Russell surpassed 2,000 points with his 3-pointer early in the game. After four years at Rhode Island, he's finishing his career at Maryland.
''I've been through a lot,'' Russell said.
BIG PICTURE
Ohio State: The Buckeyes were coming off Thursday's close win at No. 15 Illinois and needed this game to improve their Big Ten and NCAA Tournament seedings. They must play better in their final three games.
Maryland: In a disappointing season, this was perhaps their most impressive win. Inspired by the 20th anniversary of the 2002 NCAA championship team, the Terrapins can hope for a nice run in the upcoming Big Ten tournament.
UP NEXT
Ohio State: Finishes its regular season with three home games: Nebraska on Tuesday, Michigan State on Thursday and Michigan on Sunday.
Maryland: Will host Minnesota on Wednesday and finish the regular season on the road at Michigan State on Sunday.
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1st Half
OSU
Buckeyes
28
MD
Terrapins
32
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
E.J. Liddell vs. Qudus Wahab (Buckeyes gains possession)
19:49
Malaki Branham turnover (bad pass) (Donta Scott steals)
19:20
Qudus Wahab misses two point jump shot
19:18
Zed Key defensive rebound
19:01
Eugene Brown III misses three point jump shot
18:59
Qudus Wahab defensive rebound
18:41
+2
Eric Ayala makes two point layup
0-2
18:11
Eugene Brown III misses three point jump shot
18:09
Donta Scott defensive rebound
17:57
+3
Donta Scott makes three point jump shot (Eric Ayala assists)
0-5
17:31
Malaki Branham misses three point jump shot
17:29
Fatts Russell defensive rebound
17:13
+3
Fatts Russell makes three point jump shot (Hakim Hart assists)
0-8
17:10
Buckeyes 30 second timeout
16:47
+2
E.J. Liddell makes two point jump shot
2-8
16:31
Fatts Russell misses two point jump shot
16:29
E.J. Liddell defensive rebound
16:13
+2
Kyle Young makes two point layup
4-8
15:56
Donta Scott misses two point jump shot
15:54
Malaki Branham defensive rebound
15:47
Malaki Branham misses three point jump shot
15:45
Qudus Wahab defensive rebound
15:34
+2
Hakim Hart makes two point layup
4-10
15:17
+3
Jamari Wheeler makes three point jump shot (Malaki Branham assists)
7-10
14:54
Hakim Hart turnover (bad pass)
14:54
TV timeout
14:34
E.J. Liddell misses two point jump shot
14:32
Qudus Wahab defensive rebound
14:22
Justin Ahrens personal foul (Qudus Wahab draws the foul)
14:05
Donta Scott misses two point jump shot
14:04
Julian Reese offensive rebound
14:04
Julian Reese offensive foul
14:04
Julian Reese turnover
13:40
+2
Malaki Branham makes two point jump shot
9-10
13:25
Eric Ayala misses two point jump shot
13:23
Jamari Wheeler defensive rebound
13:03
+2
Kyle Young makes two point layup (Malaki Branham assists)
11-10
12:43
+2
Fatts Russell makes two point jump shot
11-12
12:27
Julian Reese shooting foul (E.J. Liddell draws the foul)
12:27
+1
E.J. Liddell makes regular free throw 1 of 3
12-12
12:25
+1
E.J. Liddell makes regular free throw 2 of 3
13-12
12:25
+1
E.J. Liddell makes regular free throw 3 of 3
14-12
12:15
Qudus Wahab misses two point hook shot
12:13
Justin Ahrens defensive rebound
12:04
Justin Ahrens misses three point jump shot
12:02
Hakim Hart defensive rebound
12:04
Joey Brunk personal foul (Hakim Hart draws the foul)
11:42
TV timeout
11:35
Fatts Russell misses two point layup
11:34
Qudus Wahab offensive rebound
11:34
Terrapins turnover (shot clock violation)
11:16
Joey Brunk turnover (3-second violation)
11:01
+2
Qudus Wahab makes two point dunk (Fatts Russell assists)
14-14
10:48
Xavier Green personal foul (Kyle Young draws the foul)
10:32
Eugene Brown III misses three point jump shot
10:30
Kyle Young offensive rebound
10:20
E.J. Liddell misses three point jump shot
10:18
Eric Ayala defensive rebound
9:56
Xavier Green misses two point jump shot
9:54
E.J. Liddell defensive rebound
9:48
E.J. Liddell misses three point jump shot
9:46
Ian Martinez defensive rebound
9:38
Ian Martinez misses two point layup
9:36
Buckeyes defensive rebound
9:13
Donta Scott blocks Malaki Branham's two point jump shot
9:11
Ian Martinez defensive rebound
8:58
+2
Donta Scott makes two point layup
14-16
8:33
Malaki Branham misses three point jump shot
8:35
Eugene Brown III offensive rebound
8:35
Eric Ayala personal foul (Eugene Brown III draws the foul)
8:25
+2
E.J. Liddell makes two point jump shot
16-16
8:07
E.J. Liddell shooting foul (Eric Ayala draws the foul)
8:07
+1
Eric Ayala makes regular free throw 1 of 2
16-17
8:07
+1
Eric Ayala makes regular free throw 2 of 2
16-18
7:53
Cedric Russell turnover (bad pass) (Eric Ayala steals)
7:44
+2
Eric Ayala makes two point layup
16-20
7:19
+3
Cedric Russell makes three point jump shot (E.J. Liddell assists)
19-20
6:59
+2
Eric Ayala makes two point layup
19-22
6:40
+2
Malaki Branham makes two point jump shot
21-22
6:21
+3
Eric Ayala makes three point jump shot (Donta Scott assists)
21-25
6:01
+3
Cedric Russell makes three point jump shot (Jamari Wheeler assists)
24-25
5:38
+2
Eric Ayala makes two point layup
24-27
5:23
E.J. Liddell misses three point jump shot
5:21
Eric Ayala defensive rebound
5:14
Eric Ayala misses three point jump shot
5:12
Donta Scott offensive rebound
5:07
+2
Donta Scott makes two point hook shot
24-29
4:44
Cedric Russell misses three point jump shot
4:42
Eric Ayala defensive rebound
4:23
Donta Scott misses three point jump shot
4:21
Cedric Russell defensive rebound
4:07
Eugene Brown III misses two point layup
4:05
Ian Martinez defensive rebound
3:49
Ian Martinez misses three point jump shot
3:47
E.J. Liddell defensive rebound
3:43
Buckeyes 30 second timeout
3:43
TV timeout
3:30
Malaki Branham misses two point layup
3:28
Zed Key offensive rebound
3:26
Zed Key misses two point layup
3:22
Jamari Wheeler offensive rebound
3:22
Malaki Branham misses three point jump shot
3:20
Jamari Wheeler offensive rebound
3:11
Zed Key offensive foul (Fatts Russell draws the foul)
3:11
Zed Key turnover
3:11
TV timeout
2:54
Fatts Russell misses three point jump shot
2:52
Zed Key defensive rebound
2:42
Justin Ahrens misses three point jump shot
2:40
Kyle Young offensive rebound
2:40
Hakim Hart personal foul (Kyle Young draws the foul)
2:33
Fatts Russell personal foul (Zed Key draws the foul)