Rutgers University
12-17,5-13Big Ten
Maryland
11-18,4-14Big Ten
Men’s Basketball Holds Off Maryland, 69-65, on the Road
Mar 01 | Men's Basketball
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Rutgers men's basketball built a 20-point first-half lead and withstood a furious second-half rally to earn a 69-65 victory over Maryland on Saturday afternoon at the XFINITY Center.
The Scarlet Knights (12-17, 5-13 Big Ten) controlled the game from the opening tip, using defense and transition offense to seize momentum early. Rutgers shot 45 percent in the first half and held Maryland to just 32 percent from the field, including 1-of-14 from three-point range, to take a commanding 39-20 lead into the break.
Tariq Francis led all scorers with 19 points, going a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line while adding five assists. Jamichael Davis provided a spark on both ends, finishing with 12 points and six rebounds, while Darren Buchanan Jr. added 14 points and seven boards in 32 minutes of action.
Rutgers forced 19 Maryland turnovers and turned them into 20 points, including several key fast-break finishes in the first half. A buzzer-beating three from Francis pushed the lead to 19 at halftime, capping a dominant opening 20 minutes in which the Scarlet Knights led for over 19 minutes.
Maryland (11-18, 4-14 Big Ten) responded in the second half, shooting nearly 47 percent and knocking down five three-pointers after the break. The Terrapins used a 13-0 run midway through the half to erase the deficit and briefly take a one-point lead with 11:26 remaining.
Rutgers answered behind timely interior scoring and poise at the free throw line. Buchanan and Dylan Grant converted key buckets in the paint to regain control, and the Scarlet Knights went 11-of-14 at the stripe in the second half to hold off Maryland's late push.
After Maryland trimmed the lead to two in the final minute, Rutgers sealed the game at the line. Francis and Davis combined to go 5-for-6 on free throws in the closing seconds to secure the four-point win.
The Scarlet Knights finished 19-of-23 (82.6 percent) from the free throw line and held a 34-30 edge in points in the paint.
Two more games will remain in the regular season following this tilt. A trip to No. 13/13 Michigan State is next on Thursday night, then back home to host Penn State on Sunday.
Postgame Notes
- Rutgers has won seven of the past ten games over Maryland (dating back to a win on March 3, 2020) and has ten wins in 25 lifetime meetings.
- Rutgers defeated Maryland for the second time this season.
- Rutgers held Maryland to 20 first-half points their second-lowest scoring output in a half for the season.
- RU forced 14 Maryland turnovers in the first half.
- Tariq Francis had the best free-throw percentage for 10+ makes for an RU player since Ron Harper Jr on Jan 8, 2022.
- Tariq Francis continues one of the best free-throw shooting seasons in Rutgers men's basketball history:
Most Free Throws Made in A Single Season at Rutgers
11. Keith Hughes (1990-91) 144
12. Tariq Francis (2025-26) 136
13. Kelvin Troy (1979-80) 134
14. Keith Hughes (1989-90) 130
Best Single Season Free Throw Percentage at Rutgers
1. Steve Kaplan (1969-70) .927
2. Bob Lloyd (1966-67) .921
3. Tariq Francis (2025-26) .910
4. Geoff Billet (1995-96) .900
