Maryland Triumphs Over Oregon in Big Ten Tournament
In an impressive first-round matchup of the Big Ten Tournament on Tuesday, Maryland emerged victorious against Oregon, ending the game with a score of 70-60. The Terrapins established dominance early on, particularly in the first half where they stifled Oregon’s offense, allowing the Ducks to make only 3 of 22 shots (a mere 14%) and failing to hit any three-pointers by halftime.
Maryland surged to a commanding 33-12 lead at the intermission after scoring the first nine points of the game. The Ducks finally connected on their first basket at 8:46 in the period, trailing 17-8, but Maryland quickly extended its advantage with a 10-0 run that brought the score to 31-10. David Coit shone with 12 points during this stretch and finished with 17 on the night, boosting his team to this critical win.
Second Half Comeback Attempts
In the second half, Oregon attempted to mount a comeback with an 11-2 run reducing the deficit to 12 points early on. However, the Terrapins responded effectively, limiting the Ducks to just three points over the next five and a half minutes, pushing the score to 58-34 around the eight-minute mark.
Oregon forward Nate Bittle ignited a late rally with a dunk and a three-point play, contributing to a 15-2 run that narrowed the gap to 60-49 with 4:30 left on the clock. Despite several attempts to close in on Maryland, the Ducks managed to dip within single digits at one point, trailing 67-58 with just 53 seconds remaining.
Nevertheless, Darius Adams from Maryland sealed the game by converting three of four free throw attempts, securing a double-digit margin at the final buzzer. The Ducks had notable performances from Bittle, who scored 16 points, and Kwame Evans Jr. with 14 points, alongside Takai Simpkins contributing 10 points.
Historic Victory for Maryland
Maryland, despite also having a 12-20 record, received strong support from Andre Mills, who not only scored 12 points, but also grabbed six rebounds and dished out five assists. Solomon Washington matched Mills with 12 points and Adams added 10.
This victory marked the first time Maryland has triumphed over Oregon in their matchup history, reversing the outcome of their previous two encounters since Oregon joined the Big Ten. The last face-off had seen the Ducks claim a 64-54 win in January. The Terrapins’ journey continues in the tournament as they now prepare to face ninth-seeded Iowa in the next round on Wednesday.
