Saturday, January 23, 2021 02:00 PM (ET)

Eric Ayala helps Maryland topple No. 17 Minnesota

Field Level Media
Jan 23, 2021

Eric Ayala scored 21 points to lead Maryland to a 63-49 road upset of No. 17 Minnesota in Big Ten play on Saturday.

Donta Scott added 15 points for Maryland (9-7, 3-6 Big Ten), which for the third time this year beat an opponent on the road when that team was ranked.

Maryland also beat Wisconsin and Illinois on the road.

Maryland held Minnesota to 30.4 percent shooting from the field overall (14 of 46) and 21.7 percent from 3-point range (5 of 23).

It was the fewest points scored by Minnesota (11-5, 4-5) this season and the first time the Golden Gophers have failed to score at least 50 points in a game.

The Terrapins also held a 38-30 rebounding advantage.

Marcus Carr led all scorers with 25 points for Minnesota, but he was the only player to reach double-figures for the Golden Gophers.

Maryland shot 42.2 percent (19 of 45) and 34.8 percent (8 of 23) from 3-point range.

Trailing 36-27 at halftime, Minnesota closed to within 41-35 with 13:22 remaining in the game, but Maryland held firm.

Ayala hit a 3-pointer to give Maryland a 48-37 lead with 11:16 left, and the Terrapins ended up extending their lead to 51-39 with 8:19 remaining.

Maryland then went up 55-41 with 6:17 remaining after a 3-pointer by Jairus Hamilton.

Minnesota's Liam Robbins hit a 3-pointer to make it 55-44 with 5:48 remaining, but that was as close as the Golden Gophers would get.

Maryland ultimately took its biggest lead of the game at 61-46 with 1:01 remaining.

Maryland got off to a fast start, opening the game with a 17-3 run over the course of the first 7:41.

Minnesota answered with a 14-3 run to cut the Maryland lead to 20-17 with 6:31 remaining in the first half, but Maryland restored its lead to double digits at 33-23 with 1:32 left in the first half before taking a 36-27 lead into halftime.

--Field Level Media

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