COLLEGE PARK, Md. — On a day when Maryland men’s basketball honored its 2002 NCAA championship team, the Terps used the energy surging throughout Xfinity Center to upset No. 22 Ohio State, 75-60, Sunday afternoon.
The Terps have shown during this season that they play their best basketball when senior Eric Ayala and graduate transfer Fatts Russell are scoring at a high level. That was the case against Ohio State, as Ayala (23 points) and Russell (career-high 27 points) combined for 50 points on 17-for-36 shooting to help Maryland earn its third win over a ranked opponent this season. The duo also shot 8-for-15 from beyond the arc and 8-for-10 from the free-throw line.
Ayala took over the first half, scoring 13 points, but it was Rusell who took over down the stretch as he got hot from 3-point land. He dropped 19 second-half points, three of which came with 2:34 left and sent the home crowd into a frenzy. His step-back 3-pointer gave the Terps a 72-57 advantage, and his last of six made threes on 10 attempts with 1:18 left brought a wide smile.
