COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Thanks to a game-high 21 points and 11 rebounds from junior guard Aaron Wiggins, Maryland (12-10, 6-9 Big Ten) won back-to-back Big Ten games for the first time this season Feb. 16, as the Terps defeated Nebraska (5-13, 1-10) 64-50 in College Park.
In what was a back-and-forth contest for most of the game, Maryland ended on a 13-3 run, holding the Cornhuskers without a field goal for the last three and a half minutes. The Terps were able to overcome a season-high 17 turnovers with stifling defense throughout the game. Maryland held Nebraska to 33% shooting Tuesday night, and the Cornhuskers did themselves no favors by missing half of its free throws (6-for-12).
“That was a grinder,” Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon said. “Our defense was terrific almost the whole game. They made some shots early, some tough threes on us, and then I thought we really locked in in the second half defensively. And we rebounded well. Our boxing out was better, our guards helped us rebound.
“And we just hit a streak where we were able to get to the rim. We couldn’t make a jump shot, but Wiggins and Eric Ayala, two really good three-point shooters were 3-for-16 from three combined and had some good looks. But we just kept grinding. We kept figuring it out. I told them at about the seven-minute mark that this game doesn’t have to be close if we can just get our offense going. And we were able to make some layups, we were able to get to the foul line, Darryl made a big one-and-one, and then our defense was terrific down the stretch.”
Wiggins’ high offensive output is starting to become a trend, as he has now scored 17 or more points in five of his last six games. The North Carolina native did most of his damage on Tuesday night in the second half, scoring 15 after halftime.
“Shots just started to fall and I continued to stay aggressive,” Wiggins said. “Seeing the ball go in just increases my confidence and I’m just feeling confident out there and playing well.”
Wiggins was joined by junior guard Eric Ayala (14 points) and Jairus Hamilton (15 points) as Maryland’s double-digit scorers against the Cornhuskers. While Ayala’s scoring has come to be expected, Hamilton’s contribution off the bench was a pleasant surprise.
The junior forward shot an efficient 6-for-7 from the field and 3-for-4 from beyond the arc while also adding five rebounds to his totals.
“That was huge for us,” Wiggins said. “Just coming off of the bench in the first half and playing the way [Hamilton] played it was really good for us because he provided a little spark, he gave us a little bit of energy, and on the offensive end he was making shots. So it was really good for us. It kind of opened the floor a little bit for us and was able to get us going.”
Hamilton matched his season-high with 15 points and could be turning a corner for the Terps at the right time.
“I was just feeling really confident,” Hamilton said. “I just knew this was a game where I had a lot of opportunities coming in, so I just wanted to take advantage of the opportunities. I know this hasn’t been the best year for me and stuff like that, but I just wanted to stay confident and stay ready to come in and produce whenever I’m needed.”
Maryland dominated the glass on Tuesday night and came away with a plus-15 rebound margin against the Huskers. The Terps also asserted their low-post dominance with 24 points in the paint to Nebraska’s 14.
But despite being the much better team in certain areas on Tuesday night, Turgeon knows his team must cut back on the turnovers if they want to complete the sweep of Nebraska on Wednesday.
“We just have to be better with the ball than we were tonight. And hopefully we will be tomorrow,” Turgeon said.
Maryland takes the court again tomorrow night against the Cornhuskers. Tip-off in College Park is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.
