Opening Round of 2024 B1G Ten Men’s basketball tournament presented by TIAA.

Maryland (16-16) advanced to the second round and will play No. 5 seed Wisconsin on Thursday at 2:30 pm ET. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network.

The Terps had four players in double-figures led by Donta Scott, who scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds as he made two three-pointers.

Julian Reese reached the 1,000-point scoring mark and became the 61st Terp to do so after Jahmir Young accomplished the feat earlier in the season. The junior finished with 12 points and six rebounds in his historic outing as he surpassed 1,000 points on a jumper with 8:46 left in the second half.

First Team All-Big Ten guard Jahmir Young had 11 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Freshman Jamie Kaiser, Jr. – making his fourth college start – scored in double-figures for the second game in a row with 11 points, making three three-pointers.

The Terps began the game on an 11-0 run and never looked back. They boasted a 36-22 halftime lead and led for the entirety of the game. For Rutgers, (15-17) the 22 points were the fewest the Terps allowed in the first half of a Big Ten Tournament game ever.

The Terps had their best defensive showing in a Big Ten Tournament game ever, holding Rutgers to just 51 points. Going back to the ACC Tournament, it was the fewest points allowed by the Terps in a game since beating No. 1 seed NC State, 71-49, in the 1989 ACC Quarterfinals.

This was the first-ever meeting between Rutgers and Maryland in the Big Ten Tournament. 

Breaking Down The Action

• Maryland began the game on an 11-0 run forcing Rutgers to call a timeout. Donta Scott, Jamie Kaiser, Jr and DeShawn Harris-Smith all knocked down three-pointers for the first three buckets as well. The Terps made four of their first five shots from the floor. 
• At the second media timeout, the Terps led 17-7. All five starters were in the scoring column and Kaiser had a game-high six points with two three-pointers. 
• The Terrapins sparked another run later in the first half. This time, it was a 10-0 run that was led by Donta Scott. He scored six of the points as the Terps led 32-16 with 3:09 left in the half.  
• The Terps led 36-22 at the half. Seven Terps were in the scoring column and they shot 4-8 from beyond the arch. The 22 points allowed were the fewest ever allowed by the Terps in the first half of a Big Ten Tournament game.  
• Maryland made its last five shots at the first media timeout of the second half. Julian Reese and Scott were up to double-figure scoring and the Terps grabbed a 47-24 lead. It was their largest lead of the day. 
• Jahari Long knocked down a three-pointer and was the eighth eight Terp to reach the scoring column. Maryland led 51-30 at 12:52 in the half.  
• Reese hit a jumper at the 8:46 mark for his 1,000th point of his career. Scott scored right after and the Terps were on a 7-0 run. Maryland led 62-36 and was shutting down Rutgers’ offense. 
• The Terps closed out the game with its bench and cruised to a win without trailing at any point. 

Conference Tournament Marks

• The Terps had their best defensive game in Big Ten Tournament history, limiting Rutgers to 51 points. The previous low was set last season in the Quarterfinals, when Maryland beat Minnesota, 70-54 in 2023.
• The 51 points by Rutgers are also the fewest by a Maryland opponent in a conference tournament since the Terps upset No. 1 seed NC State in the 1989 ACC Quarterfinals, 71-49.
• Maryland held Rutgers to just 22 points in the first half, the fewest the Terps allowed in the first half of a Big Ten Tournament.

Big Ten Honors 

• Four Terps received All-Big Ten Honors for the 2023-24 season. 
• Jahmir Young was named All-Big Ten First Team. It was his second time receiving All-Big Ten team honors after making the second team last season
• It was the sixth time in program history a Terp was named to the All-Big Ten First Team. Melo Trimble (2014-15 & 2016-17), Bruno Fernando (2018-19), Jalen Smith (2019-20) and Anthony Cowan Jr. (2019-20) were the other Terps to do it. 
• Young also represented Maryland for the 2023-24 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
• Donta Scott was named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. It was his second time receiving the honor after doing so last season.
• Julian Reese was also named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. It was also his second time receiving the honor after doing so last season. 
• DeShawn Harris-Smith was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. He was the first selection since Jalen Smith in 2018-19 and the 12th Terp overall since 1992-93 to be named to a conference all-freshman team. 

Double-Figure Factors

• Donta Scott (16 points) tallied double-figures for the 84th time over his five-year career and his 19th time this season.
• Julian Reese (12 points) had the 55th double-figure game of his career, with the junior doing so for the 26th time this season.
• Jahmir Young (11 points) dropped double-figures for the 136th time in his career and the 30th time in 31 games he’s played this season. It’s also the 27th game in a row that he’s played and scored double-digits.
• Jamie Kaiser, Jr. (11 points) posted double-figures for the fifth time this season as a freshman. He has also notched double-figures in back-to-back games.

Fear The Jahmir  

• With 11 points in the game, Jahmir Young added to his career scoring total and now has 2,608 points. He is the second-leading active scorer in the nation behind Texas’ Max Abmas (3,084).
• Young entered Wednesday’s game as the third-leading scorer in the Big Ten and the No. 22 scorer nationally at 20.8 points per game.
• Young is one of four active players with 2000 points, 700 rebounds and 450 assists. He holds career totals of 2,608 points, 774 rebounds and 499 assists.
• Against Rutgers on Feb. 6, Young became the sixth NCAA player since 2006 to post 1,000 points at two different institutions after scoring 1,421 at Charlotte from 2019-22. He now has 1,187 points in his two seasons at Maryland. He was the third-fastest player to reach that milestone and the fifth player in program history to do so in just two seasons.
• Young posted the 51st 500-point season in program history on Feb. 14. He now has 634 points this season which is a career-best and ranks 13th for a single season in program history.
• Young is looking to be the first Terp since Greivis Vasquez in 2009-10 to average over 20 points, four rebounds, and four assists per game. Entering the matchup, Young averages 20.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists.

Scott Climbing Up Charts 

• Donta Scott scored 16 points, increasing his career total to 1,686 He is No. 14 on Maryland’s all-time list and 19 points from passing Walt Williams (1988-92).
• Scott grabbed six rebounds to increase his career total to 857, which is ninth all-time. He’s just three from passing Tom McMillen (1971-74) with 859 rebounds.
• Scott knocked down two three-pointers to bring his total to 211, which is fourth in program history. He’s 13 from passing Eric Ayala (2018-22).
• Scott broke the program record for starts by passing Steve Blake (1999-2003) earlier this year. He added to that number with his 145th career start over his five-year career. It was also his 161st game as a Terp to add to his other record. 
• Scott is one of five players in program history to have 1,500 points and 800 rebounds in a career. He joined Lonny Baxter (1,858 & 998), Tom McMillen (1,807 & 859), Keith Booth (1,776 & 916) and Terence Morris (1,733 & 925) earlier this year.  

Juju Beast

• Julian Reese reached 1,000 career points in the game. He scored 12 to give him 1,000 in his career. He became the 61st player at Maryland to reach that milestone.
• Reese is No. 13 on Maryland’s all-time blocks list. He blocked two shots on Wednesday to increase his career total to 123. He’s three away from passing Alex Len (2011-13) and Obinna Ekezie (1995-99) who are tied with 125 career blocks.
• Reese recorded his 16th double-double of the season and the 23rd of his career with 12 points and six rebounds. Reese has the fourth-most double-doubles as a Terp dating back to 2010-11 and is tied for the eighth-most nationally this season.
• Reese is tied for 30th nationally in total rebounds (298) and ranks in the top-25 for a single season at Maryland. He is also No. 25 nationally and third in the Big Ten, averaging 9.7 rebounds per game.
• Reese is the only D-I player averaging 10.0+ points, 9.7+ rebounds, 1.90+ blocks and 1.00+ steals this season. In the last 25 years, the only other Big Ten player to put up these numbers was Michigan State’s Xavier Tillman in 2019-20.
• Reese is one of two players in the Big Ten to have over 400 points, 275 rebounds and 50 blocks this season.

Big Ten Tournament History 

• Since joining the conference in 2014-15, the Terps are now 5-8 all-time in Big Ten Tournament games with this victory. 
• The Terps are now 1-0 in the first round, 2-2 in the second round, 2-3 in the quarterfinals, and 0-2 in the semifinals. The Terps reached the semifinals in both 2015 and 2016. 
• This is the first time Maryland is a No. 12 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. 
• Including a 47-57 record in ACC Tournament action, the Terps are now 52-65 all-time in all conference tournament games between the ACC and Big Ten. 

Numbers To Know

• 1: Entering the matchup, the Terps allowed 65.7 points per game, ranking first in the Big Ten and 23rd nationally.
• 2: Jamie Kaiser, Jr. scored in double digits in back-to-back games for the second time in his career.
• 4: Kaiser made his fourth career start for the Terps. 
• 6: Maryland has had six All-Big Ten First Team players in its program’s history after Jahmir Young took home the honor this season.
• 12: The Terps are 12th best nationally in defensive efficiency according to KenPom.com.
• 12: DeShawn Harris-Smith is the 12th Terp overall since 1992-93 to be named to a conference all-freshman team.
• 22: Maryland allowed 22 points in the first half, the fewest ever allowed by the Terps in a Big Ten Tournament.
• 51: The 51 points allowed by the Terps were the fewest allowed in a conference tournament game since the 1989 ACC Quarterfinals.
• 634: Jahmir Young‘s scoring total for the season, which is a career-best and ranks 13th in program history.
• 1,000: Julian Reese became the 61st Terp to score 1,000 points in a career.
• 2,608: Young’s career points – 2nd most nationally for an active player.

Up Next 

• Maryland will play No. 5 seed Wisconsin tomorrow, March 14 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The game is scheduled to tip at 2:30 PM ET and will be televised on Big Ten Network and will be carried on the Maryland Sports Radio Network.

Penn State Advances to Second Round of Big Ten Tournament with 66-57 Win Over Michigan

Hicks’ six threes fuel Nittany Lion offense in first-round win

MINNEAPOLIS – The 11th-seeded Penn State men’s basketball team used a strong defensive effort to defeat 14th-seeded Michigan 66-57 in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament Wednesday night inside the Target Center. Penn State advances to the second round and will take on sixth-seeded Indiana at approximately 9 p.m. Thursday.

The Nittany Lions took a lead in the fourth minute of the ballgame and never looked back in their solid opening round win over the Wolverines. Stellar defense and hot shooting helped Penn State earn a win in the Big Ten Tournament for the fourth-straight year.

Zach Hicks’ 20-point outing led the Nittany Lions to the opening-round win. Hicks cashed a season-best six threes, tying the second-best single-game total for a Nittany Lion in a Big Ten Tournament game. Ace Baldwin Jr. filled up the stat sheet, scoring 17 points with six assists, five rebounds, three steals, and a block. Qudus Wahab scored 13 points and grabbed a team-high eight boards, solidifying Penn State’s presence down low to seal the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• A Demetrius Lilley three-point play at the 14:57 mark gave the Nittany Lions an early 8-3 lead five minutes into the game.
• The Wolverines scored the next two baskets, but Penn State answered with an 8-3 stretch over the next 3:25 as a Zach Hicks triple gave the Nittany Lions a 16-10 edge with 7:48 left on the first-half clock.
• Michigan knotted the score at 20 three minutes later before a Hicks 3-point barrage and strong defense helped the Nittany Lions spend the final 4:05 of the half on a 13-2 run.  Hicks drilled three triples during the surge and Penn State didn’t allow a Wolverine field goal in the final 5:29 of the half as the Nittany Lions took a 33-22 lead into the locker room.
• Michigan started the second half hot as the Wolverines pulled within four at 35-31 just over two minutes into the half. Five-straight points from Ace Baldwin Jr. then helped Penn State respond with a 14-6 stretch over the next 3:27 as five points from Hicks capped the streak put Penn State’s lead back at double-digits at 47-35 with 14:40 to play.
• The Wolverines answered right back with 11 of the next 14 points to suddenly put the Penn State lead at just four at 50-46 with 9:53 left.
• The Nittany Lions used five points from the free throw line and a Wahab hook shot to tally seven of the next nine and put the score at 57-48 at 7:31.
• Hicks drilled his sixth triple of the night at the 5:50 mark to put Penn State’s lead back in double digits at 60-49.
• Penn State’s defense did the work down the stretch as the Wolverines scored just two points in the next five minutes. Michigan scored six in the final minute of play, but it proved too little, too late. The Nittany Lions went six-for-eight from the free throw line in the final five minutes to seal the 66-57 win.

GAME NOTES

• Penn State has now won a Big Ten Tournament game for the fourth-straight year and the sixth time in the last seven completed tournaments. Penn State advances to the second round of the Big Ten Tournament to face sixth-seeded Indiana Thursday night at approximately 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.
• Penn State improves to 3-1 all-time in Big Ten Tournament games vs. Michigan.
• Michigan entered the game shooting 44.7 percent on the season but was stifled by the Nittany Lion defense that allowed the Wolverines to convert at just 34.5 percent from the floor, including a 24.1 percent effort in the first half.
• Penn State’s Big Ten-leading three-point defense limited the Wolverines to a 22.2 percent mark from downtown.
• Penn State forced 15 turnovers on Wednesday night, including 11 in the first half alone.
• Zach Hicks, making his Big Ten Tournament debut, posted a season-best 20 points against the Wolverines. His game is Penn State’s first 20-plus-point game in the tournament since Jalen Pickett dropped 28 against Indiana in last year’s Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
• Hicks drilled a season-best six triples, including four in the first half of play. The mark ties the second-best total in a Big Ten Tournament game in school history. The junior added six boards and an assist to his final line.
• In his second career Big Ten Tournament game, Qudus Wahab recorded tournament career-bests in points (13) and rebounds (8).
• Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Ace Baldwin Jr. finished with 17 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals.
• Only two members of the Nittany Lions’ roster (Qudus Wahab during his time at Maryland and Andy Christos) had seen action in the conference tournament before tonight. Eleven Nittany Lions made their Big Ten Tournament debuts on Wednesday.
• Dan Conlan recorded his first block in a Penn State uniform.

UP NEXT

• Penn State advances to face sixth-seeded Indiana at approximately 9 p.m. Thursday in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. The game will air nationally on Big Ten Network.