ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Derik Queen delivered a standout performance with 17 points and 12 rebounds, propelling 13th-ranked Maryland to secure a 71-65 victory over 17th-ranked Michigan on Wednesday night. This triumph also ensured that 8th-ranked Michigan State clinched at least a share of the Big Ten title.
The Terrapins (23-7, 13-6) have been on a roll, winning six of their last seven contests, with their only setback being a close loss against the Spartans on a last-second shot.
The Wolverines (22-8, 14-5) have stumbled as of late, dropping two games in a row and losing three out of their last four matchups at home, which pushed them out of the top spot in the conference standings.
With a 1 1/2-game lead and only two games left in the regular season, Michigan State, boasting a 15-3 record in Big Ten play, prepares to visit Iowa on Thursday night before wrapping up their schedule at home against arch-rival Michigan on Sunday.
Maryland established their dominance early by restricting Michigan to their season’s lowest score of 22 points in the first half, building up an 11-point advantage by halftime. The Wolverines contributed to their downfall in the second half by committing nine turnovers.
Rodney Rice contributed significantly for the Terrapins with 19 points, while Selton Miguel pitched in with 17 points.
For Michigan, Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf each put up 20 points, and Tre Donaldson added 10 points along with six assists.
Takeaways from the game showed Maryland’s strength under Kevin Willard’s coaching, as they have now triumphed in 10 of their last 11 games, bolstering their seeding prospects both for the Big Ten and the NCAA Tournaments.
As for Michigan, Dusty May’s squad had a golden opportunity to ensure their spot in contending for the Big Ten title but fell short.
A pivotal moment occurred when Danny Wolf missed two free throws with 5:48 remaining. This dashed Michigan’s chance to narrow the gap to just two points.
Statistics revealed that Maryland capitalized heavily on Michigan’s mistakes, scoring 21 points off the Wolverines’ 16 turnovers.
In the regular season’s final weekend, Maryland is set to host Northwestern on Saturday, while Michigan will face off against Michigan State in what could be a decisive game for the conference title aspirations on Sunday.
