Rutgers Guts It Out on the Road Against Maryland

The Scarlet Knights survive a second-half collapse to beat the Terrapins 69-65.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Rutgers Scarlet Knights managed to survive on the road against the Maryland Terrapins with a 69-65 victory, improving their record to 12-17 (5-13 Big Ten). Rutgers built a 20-point first-half lead but had to hold on late as Maryland made a furious comeback. Rutgers guard Tariq Francis led the team with 19 points, going perfect from the free-throw line, while Darren Buchanan Jr. added 14 points and 7 rebounds.

Why it matters

This was an important road win for the young Rutgers team, which has struggled this season. The victory keeps their slim postseason hopes alive and shows the team's resilience in fighting off a big second-half comeback attempt by Maryland.

The details

Rutgers shot 45% in the first half and held Maryland to just 32% from the field. The Scarlet Knights' defense forced 19 turnovers, leading to 20 points. However, Rutgers nearly squandered their big lead in the second half before making key free throws and defensive stops down the stretch to secure the victory.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 2, 2026.

The players

Tariq Francis

A Rutgers guard who led the team with 19 points, going perfect from the free-throw line.

Darren Buchanan Jr.

A Rutgers player who added 14 points and 7 rebounds in the win.

Ja Michael Davis

A Rutgers player whose strong defense was instrumental in the victory.

Steve Pikiell

The head coach of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

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What they’re saying

“Gutted it out, got the free throws, got some stops. So, really proud of our team. It hasn't been one of those years. I think we did a great job of getting our guys focused on what was important.”

— Steve Pikiell, Head Coach (si.com)

“They had 19 turnovers, which has to be a season high. Our defense was active and put them in tough spots. But, if we could play 40 minutes of defense like the first half, we would have a lot different record that's for sure. It's a 40-minute game. When it got crunch time, they responded, and that's a great sign for seven first-year students and a young basketball team.”

— Steve Pikiell, Head Coach (si.com)

What’s next

Rutgers' next game will be against the Michigan State Spartans, followed by a matchup against Penn State to close out their season.

The takeaway

This victory shows the resilience of the young Rutgers team, which was able to hold off a second-half comeback attempt by Maryland. The Scarlet Knights' strong defense and ability to make free throws down the stretch were key factors in securing the road win.