PRESS RELEASE
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Eric Ayala led the team with 23 points, Aaron Wiggins added 15 points and nine rebounds, and Maryland finished up non-conference play with an 84-71 win over La Salle on Tuesday evening at the XFINITY Center.
Maryland led for nearly the entire game, keeping the Explorers at bay throughout the first half before creating some separation with a 10-0 run in the half’s closing minutes.
The Terps would take a 40-25 edge into the locker room, but La Salle hung around at the start of the second half. A three from Spencer Scott would cut the lead to seven with 12:22 to play, before Maryland extended things back to double digits.
The hosts added some last exclamation points in the 13-point win, starting with an alley oop from Hakim Hart off a dish from Wiggins on a fast break. Just a few minutes later, Donta Scott would put a bow on the victory, leaping over a La Salle player for a thunderous tip-slam off a missed three-pointer from Hart.
Maryland posted a season-low four turnovers in the win, its fewest under head coach Mark Turgeon.
Next, the Terps play their first Big Ten road game on Christmas Day as Maryland travels to West Lafayette, Ind. to face Indiana. The game is set for a 2:30 p.m. tip and will be broadcast on FS1.
