With under six minutes to go, senior guard Eric Ayala banked in an and-one three to cut Maryland men’s basketball’s deficit to 11. It looked like the Terps might have life after a lethargic performance all afternoon.
However, for every punch Maryland threw to fight its way back in the game, No. 16 Ohio State had a counter. On the ensuing possession, the Buckeyes ran high-low action to give National Player of the Year candidate E.J. Liddell a touch in the paint. Liddell gathered and rose up banking in the basket from the low block, plus the foul.