In College Park, Maryland extended its winning streak by securing a 74-61 victory over Northwestern on Saturday, strengthening its position in the standings as the No. 13 ranked team. Julian Reese made a significant impact during his final home game, scoring 19 points and gathering 11 rebounds to aid his team’s performance.
Although the Terrapins (24-7, 14-6 Big Ten) faced challenges throughout the match, their consistent effort led to their seventh win in the last eight games. Their sole recent defeat occurred when Michigan State scored from 65 feet to clinch the win in the final moments of the game last month.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie also contributed significantly with his 17 points, and Derik Queen achieved a double-double with 10 points along with 10 rebounds. Maryland managed to break a three-game losing streak against Northwestern, which had included an overtime defeat earlier in the same season.
Northwestern, despite the loss, remains in contention for the upcoming Big Ten Tournament. Nick Martinell was a standout player for the Wildcats (16-15, 7-13), scoring 28 points. Part of Northwestern’s difficulty was the lack of success from the 3-point line, converting only 4 out of 19 attempts.
The Wildcats were competitive in the early stages, maintaining a lead for much of the first half and holding a 42-41 advantage in the second half before Maryland took control. The Terrapins seemed to have found another gear since their previous loss to Northwestern, as they have excelled with an 11-2 record post that game.
A decisive phase in the match came when Maryland executed a 14-4 run, involving crucial 3-pointers from Gillespie and Rodney Rice, boosting their lead to 55-46, and firmly establishing control from that point onwards.
Key elements in Maryland’s win included their dominance in rebounding, evidenced by 16 offensive rebounds. This contrasted with Northwestern’s defensive struggles, managing only 17 defensive rebounds and resulting in a substantial 14-4 edge for Maryland in second-chance points.
Looking ahead, Maryland is positioned to enter the Big Ten Tournament with either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed. Northwestern’s tournament standing remains to be determined, depending on outcomes from upcoming games.
