Ohio State sophomore forward Devin Royal (21) shoots the ball during the game against Maryland Wednesday. Royal totaled 18 points as the Buckeyes fell to the Terrapins 83-59 in College Park. Credit: Courtesy Ohio State Athletics
Maryland led for all 40 minutes as the Terrapins handed the Buckeyes their worst loss of the season.
In both teams’ first Big Ten game of the year, Maryland (8-1) dominated Ohio State (5-3) 83-59 Wednesday at the XFINITY Center as the Buckeyes shot just 21% from beyond the arc in their lowest-scoring effort this season.
Maryland guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie led all scorers with 23 and four other Terrapins would join him in scoring double digits.
Maryland jumped out to a three-point lead to start the game after Gillespie knocked down a 3-pointer.
The Terrapins went on numerous runs in the first half, but their largest was 11-0, giving Maryland a 25-8 lead with just over 10 minutes to go in the half.
Ohio State forward Devin Royal had a team-high 10 points in the first and was just one of just four Buckeyes to score in the opening 20 minutes.
Maryland finished the half on a 6-2 run, while holding the Buckeyes scoreless for the final four minutes to take a 50-17 lead heading into the break.
The Maryland defense was dominant, forcing 12 Ohio State turnovers and holding the Buckeyes to 0-for-7 on 3-pointers.
This was the first time Ohio State trailed by at least 30 at halftime since January 2016 in a game against the Indiana Hoosiers.
Maryland picked up right where they left off in the second half, opening on an 8-2 run.
Royal and forward Sean Stewart ended the run with back-to-back buckets to cut the lead to 35 just over three minutes into the half.
A 3-pointer from Maryland guard Selton Miguel gave the Terrapins a 40-point lead, their largest of the game.
The Buckeyes finally showed fight, but it was in the form of a shoving match, resulting in guards Micah Parrish and John Mobley Jr. earning technical fouls.
Ohio State began its largest run of the game with 11:14 remaining in the second half as guards Meechie Johnson Jr., Evan Mahaffey and Mobley all provided points during the 7-0 run.
But the Terrapins simply had built too much of a lead and closed out the game to defeat Ohio State 83-59.
The Buckeyes will next host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Saturday. Tip-off is set for noon at the Schottenstin Center.
