Maryland Basketball: Takeaways from blowout win over No. 22 Ohio State

1. The Big 3

Maryland Basketball got big performances from each of its three best players: Eric Ayala, Fatts Russell, and Donta Scott. Together, the trio combined for 64 of Maryland’s 75 points.

Fatts Russell scored career-high 27 points on a blistering 6-10 from three-point range. The Rhode Island transfer has really turned up his play in the final stretch of the season, averaging 22.5 points per game over the last six games. Although he earned a reputation as an inefficient volume scorer, he has shot 45.5% from the field and 41.8% from three over that stretch.

Eric Ayala registered his second-highest point total of the season with 23 points. He added six rebounds and a career-best three steals. A preseason All-Big Ten selection, Ayala was expected to be the engine for the Terrapins this season. Unfortunately, he has not played well consistently, turning in some unimpressive efficiency numbers from the field and from three.

He is shooting a career-low 68% from the free-throw line just one season removed from an 83.1% mark. All that aside, Ayala showed up in this game and gave the home fans some big shots to cheer about, including an off-balance step-back three with the shot clock winding down to put UMD up 11 with four minutes to play.

Junior forward Donta Scott finished with 14 points and nine rebounds. He has shown flashes this season of being an offensive force for the Terrapins. With Russell and Ayala set to leave the program, we may see what Scott looks like as a primary offensive option in the frontcourt next season. After scoring double figures in 21 of the team’s 29 games this season, there may be real upside there.

Overall, this victory was marked by Maryland Basketball getting contributions from each of its key players. They tapped into the potential they had entering the season. Although it is far too late for it to amount to anything, it was still nice to see.