Points at a premium when Maryland, Rutgers meet

Field Level Media|published: Mon 5th February, 15:24 2024

Mar 16, 2023; Birmingham, AL, USA; Maryland Terrapins guard Jahmir Young (1) dribbles against West Virginia Mountaineers guard Joe Toussaint (5) during the second half in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament at Legacy Arena. credits: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

When Maryland plays host to Rutgers on Tuesday, the teams will have a high standard to meet.

In a women's game Saturday inside the Terrapins' home arena, Caitlin Clark shined in a 38-point performance as No. 3 Iowa outpaced Maryland in an up-tempo 93-85 victory on Saturday.

The men now take center stage at College Park, Md., in what projects to be a less-explosive contest.

Maryland (13-9, 5-6 Big Ten) will play host to Rutgers (11-10, 3-7) in a matchup between the Big Ten's two lowest-scoring and poorest-shooting teams in conference play.

Maryland's 64.8 points per game against 11 Big Ten opponents are the fewest in the conference, while its 39.8 field-goal percentage is second worst. Rutgers is next to last at 65.3 points and shoots a Big Ten-low 37.2 percent from the field in league action.

The Terrapins' stout defense has kept them among the current cluster of eight teams separated by one game in the middle of the Big Ten standings.

Maryland surrenders the fewest points in Big Ten play (64.5 per game), allows the lowest field-goal percentage (41.3) and tallies the most blocks (5.4) during an inconsistent conference campaign.

Despite holding Michigan State to 12 points below its season average on Saturday, Maryland had just three players make field goals as the Terrapins shot 30.9 percent in their 63-54 road loss to the Spartans.

Jahmir Young propelled Maryland with 31 points against Michigan State to boost his scoring average to 20.9, second highest in the Big Ten.

"He's playing his heart out," Terrapins coach Kevin Willard said.

The Scarlet Knights' offense received a boost on Friday when guard Jeremiah Williams was granted an injunction that made him eligible to play after missing 20 games for violating the NCAA's gambling policy.

The Iowa State transfer scored 10 points in his Rutgers debut on Saturday at Michigan as the Scarlet Knights erased a 15-point deficit with 17 minutes remaining to down the Wolverines 69-59 for their first win at Ann Arbor, Mich.

"We have been waiting for him to get back on the court," said Rutgers guard Derek Simpson of Williams. "He brings a different kind of energy, and that dude plays hard."

Simpson dishes out a team-best 3.2 assists per game to complement his 9.8 scoring average.

—Field Level Media

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