In College Park, Maryland, Julian Reese delivered a standout performance with 19 points and 11 rebounds in his final home game, leading the No. 13 Maryland team to a decisive 74-61 victory over Northwestern on Saturday. The Terrapins held a 24-7 overall record and a 14-6 record in the Big Ten, showcasing resilience by bouncing back to win seven of their last eight matchups. Their only recent loss was a heartbreaker against Michigan State when a 65-foot shot at the buzzer sealed their fate last month.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie contributed 17 points for Maryland, and Derik Queen also made an impact with 10 points and 10 rebounds. This victory ended a three-game losing streak against Northwestern, who had defeated Maryland in an overtime thriller back in January.
Nick Martinell led Northwestern with an impressive 28 points, despite the setback. Northwestern, with a 16-15 overall record and a 7-13 conference record, is still in contention for the Big Ten Tournament, notwithstanding the loss.
In the initial stages of the game, Northwestern showed strength, maintaining a lead for much of the first half and even holding a 42-41 advantage in the second half. However, Maryland’s performance outshined theirs in the latter part of the match.
Key takeaways from the game include Northwestern’s struggle to match Maryland’s offensive prowess. The Wildcats shot just 4 of 19 from beyond the arc. On the other hand, Maryland’s form has significantly improved since their last defeat to Northwestern earlier in the season, posting an impressive 11-2 record since that game.
A significant turning point in the game was a 14-4 run by Maryland, featuring crucial 3-pointers by Gillespie and Rodney Rice, propelling the team to a 55-46 advantage that Northwestern could not recover from.
Maryland’s dominance on the boards was evident, grabbing 16 offensive rebounds compared to Northwestern’s 17 defensive rebounds, and securing a 14-4 advantage in second-chance points.
Looking ahead, Maryland is poised to enter the Big Ten Tournament as either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed, with the top 15 teams earning spots. Meanwhile, Northwestern is among five teams vying for the final tournament slots, with one last game remaining to secure its position.
