Home US News Maryland Maryland secures fourth consecutive victory with 76-68 triumph over No. 17 Wisconsin following a strong second-half performance.

Maryland secures fourth consecutive victory with 76-68 triumph over No. 17 Wisconsin following a strong second-half performance.

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Maryland secures fourth consecutive victory with 76-68 triumph over No. 17 Wisconsin following a strong second-half performance.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — In an exciting matchup on Wednesday night, the Maryland Terrapins secured their fourth consecutive victory by defeating No. 17 Wisconsin with a score of 76-68. Rodney Rice and Ja’Kobi Gillespie were the standout players for Maryland, each contributing 16 points to the team’s performance.

The Terrapins, now holding a record of 17-5 overall and 7-4 in the Big Ten, found themselves trailing 48-43 in the second half before launching a decisive 14-2 scoring spree. Julian Reese added 14 points, while Derik Queen made a significant impact with 12 points and 12 rebounds, helping Maryland maintain momentum in the game.

After a tough bout, Maryland has demonstrated its strength by winning six out of its last seven games, the only blemish being a narrow overtime loss at Northwestern. In contrast, Wisconsin, now at 16-5 and 6-4 in league play, has faced challenges recently, suffering two losses in their last three games after a seven-game winning streak.

Despite entering the game with a remarkable 85% free-throw shooting record — potentially a Division I record — the Badgers struggled from the line, converting only 15 of 21 attempts. This shooting slump proved costly, as Maryland seized the moment, leading 62-58 before Gillespie’s 3-pointer sparked a 7-0 run, pushing their advantage to double digits.

Finishing the game with a solid performance from beyond the arc, Maryland hit 12 of 24 three-point attempts, a critical aspect of their strategy against Wisconsin’s imposing size, which included two players standing at 7 feet tall. The Terrapins managed to score a mere 20 points in the paint, while Queen’s shooting left much to be desired as he went 3 for 14.

John Tonje was the standout performer for Wisconsin, leading his team with an impressive 23 points. However, Wisconsin struggled offensively outside of his contributions, resulting in a field goal shooting percentage of just 37%.

In a notable stretch of the game, Maryland executed an impressive four consecutive three-pointers — two by Rice, along with contributions from DeShawn Harris-Smith and Gillespie — during their commanding 14-2 run.

For the crucial stats, Maryland shot an impressive 7-of-11 from three-point range in the second half, while Wisconsin could only manage 3-of-11 during the same period.

Looking ahead, Maryland will have a break before their next game against Ohio State next Thursday, while Wisconsin will face off against Northwestern this Saturday.