STATE COLLEGE, Pa. โ Derik Queen delivered an impressive performance with 23 points, while Jaโkobi Gillespie added 19 to help No. 16 Maryland secure a 68-64 victory over Penn State on Saturday. Selton Miguel also contributed significantly with his 17 points for the Terrapins, who had to rally back from a 36-30 disadvantage at halftime, ultimately putting an end to their seven-game losing streak at Happy Valley.
On the other side, Ace Baldwin Jr. led the Nittany Lions with 18 points, and DโMarco Dunn chipped in with 14. Despite their efforts, Penn State, which was at a 15-15 record overall and 5-14 in conference play, was aiming to win out and receive some assistance through the standings to qualify for the 15-team Big Ten Tournament.
Julian Reese had a strong showing as he pulled down 15 crucial rebounds for Maryland. The Terrapins entered the game as one of only four Power Four teams boasting all five of their starters with double-digit scoring averages.
From a strategic standpoint, Marylandโs victory was instrumental in bringing them closer to securing a top-four seed along with a double bye in the upcoming conference tournament. Meanwhile, Penn Stateโs efforts to keep their postseason dreams alive were hindered by yet another close defeat. This marked their ninth loss by a margin of six points or fewer, an unfortunate record they now share with Northwestern in the Big Ten.
A pivotal moment came when Baldwin missed a potential game-tying jumper with Maryland holding a narrow 66-64 lead and just 44 seconds left on the clock. Reese seized his 15th rebound, which set the stage for Rodney Rice to make a decisive play on the other end, extending the Terrapinsโ lead and ultimately securing the game with just 17 seconds remaining.
An important statistic that defined the match was Marylandโs ability to exploit Penn Stateโs errors, converting 16 turnovers from the Lions into 21 points.
Looking ahead, Maryland is set to visit No. 15 Michigan for a challenging matchup on Wednesday night before concluding their regular season at home against Northwestern on March 8. As for Penn State, they will close out their season with a visit to No. 11 Wisconsin on March 8.