NCAAB Game Recap - Maryland at Ohio State
Sun Feb 23, 2020 4:00 PM EST

MD
72
OhSt
79
F
PSU
60
Ind
68
F
Butl
59
Crei
81
F
StJon
65
Seton
81
F
Temp
63
ECU
67
F
Buck
60
Leh
69
F
Amer
60
Boston
64
F
WichSt
64
Cin
67
F
Rut
71
Wisc
79
F
SacHr
83
Bry
76
F
WIMil
73
Detr
79
F
LoyMD
70
Lafy
68
F
SoFL
71
UConn
78
F
SIU
52
NrthIA
64
F
IndSt
64
Evans
62
F
Rider
54
StPet
73
F
Quin
78
Monm
89
F
Niag
54
Maris
76
F
Canis
57
Manh
56
F
Sien
62
Fairf
59
F
HolyC
60
Colg
90
F
(N/A)
57
MtStM
65
F
SDak
80
SDSt
85
F
Minn
83
NW
57
F
WIGB
88
Oakl
92
F(2OT)
RobM
70
FaDi
75
F
LIU
71
StFPA
74
F
Merrim
75
StFNY
71
F(OT)
NM
61
Bois
74
F
Mia-FL
71
ND
87
F
USC
65
Utah
79
F
Stan
75
WaSt
57
F

Feb 23, 2020, 4:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

(7) Maryland

33

39

72

(25) Ohio State

40

39

79

Muhammad scores 22, No. 25 Ohio State tops No. 7 Maryland
Sun Feb 23, 2020 8:07 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann sat across from Luther Muhammad at a recent lunch and told him there would soon be a day when the sophomore guard would need to “be the difference.”

That day turned out to be Sunday.

Muhammad scored 22 points and No. 25 Ohio State beat No. 7 Maryland 79-72, snapping the Terrapins' nine-game winning streak.

Ohio State (18-9, 8-8 Big Ten) defeated a Top-10 team for the fourth time this season.

“He had big 3s, great confidence,” Holtmann said of Muhammad, who went 4 of 8 from beyond the arc. “They went under a lot of those ball screens at times and he was able to raise up and shoot it behind it, which was huge. I think he’s playing with a lot of confidence.”

Four other Buckeyes scored in double figures, led by Kaleb Wesson with 15 points. Duane Washington Jr. added 13, while Andre Wesson and C.J. Jackson each had 12.

“I am just happy we won,” Muhammad said. “I’m happy we all played hard, happy we stayed together. They made a lot of runs. They dug themselves back into the game. We just stayed together.”

Aaron Wiggins led Maryland (22-5, 12-4) with 20 points and Eric Ayala had 16, but the Terrapins got little help from their big guns. Leading scorer Jalen Smith, who averages 17.1 points per game, was held to eight. Anthony Cowan, who averages 16.9, scored 10 before fouling out.

“They deserve all the credit,” Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said. “They made us pay for mistakes. They got loose balls. They got free throws. They were terrific.

“My guys battled. We didn’t compete the first two minutes of the first half. Then we started to compete, we battled, never gave up. They were the better team.”

The Buckeyes dominated from outside, shooting 40% (10 for 25) from 3-point range.

The Terrapins fought back late, getting within four points with 32 seconds left, but the Buckeyes put the game away at the free throw line, where they went 16 of 16.

“The real step for them has to be consistency, including doing it on the road,” Holtmann said. “That is the sign of good players - can you be consistent home and on the road? We are not there. We are too inconsistent.”

BIG PICTURE

Ohio State has proven it can run with the best, having beaten every Top 10 team it faced this season. Maryland, still looking down from atop the Big Ten standings, looks to move on as the NCAA tournament nears.

INJURY REPORT

Ohio State played much of the game without forward Kyle Young, who went down at 4:29 off the first half after landing awkwardly on his right foot off a rebound. Young limped off with help, putting no pressure the leg, which has bothered him for weeks.

OUT WITH A KICK

Cowan fouled out with 3:54 left in the game after being assessed a flagrant technical for kicking at Kaleb Wesson’s head after a pileup under the basket.

BULLY FOR YOU

Turgeon on Kaleb Wesson: “He was allowed to be the bully offensively today. If he’s allowed to be the bully, he is a heck of a player.”

Holtmann had a different take.

“Mark said that? To each his own. His opinion can be his opinion. I thought Kaleb was physical and well within the rules," the OSU coach said.

UP NEXT

Maryland continues its two-game trip, facing Minnesota on Wednesday night.

Ohio State is at Nebraska on Thursday.

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

Leaders

Maryland PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
A. Wiggins 20 0 0 3 1 0
E. Ayala 16 0 2 3 1 0
Ohio State PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
L. Muhammad 22 0 2 5 1 0
K. Wesson 15 0 3 9 2 0

Team Comparison

MD OhSt
Points For 72 79
Field Goals 23/51-45% 23/54-43%
Three Pointers 10/29-34% 10/25-40%
Free Throws 16/19-84% 23/28-82%
Offensive Rebounds 6 13
Defensive Rebounds 21 23
Rebounds 29 42
Blocks 3 0
Steals 3 6
Turnovers 10 10
Personal Fouls 24 18
Technical Fouls 1 0
Ejections 0 0

2019-20 Reg Season - Series Tied 1-1

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Tue Jan 7 OhSt 55 @ MD 67 K. Wesson 15 A. Cowan Jr. 20
Sun Feb 23 MD 72 @ OhSt 79 A. Wiggins 20 L. Muhammad 22

Game Information

Stadium: Value City Arena, Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 18,809
Game Time: