COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Chase Audige and Pete Nance sparked a breakaway run in the final four minutes as Northwestern held off cold-shooting Maryland 67-61 in what was both the Big Ten opener for each team and Danny Manning’s debut as the Terrapins interim head coach Sunday.
In the wake of Mark Turgeon’s abrupt departure after 10 seasons on Friday, Manning was named as his replacement.
”Maryland basketball has been my passion and focus for the last 10 seasons, and I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished,” Turgeon said in a statement. He had a 226-116 record at Maryland and gone to the NCAA Tournament five of the last six seasons.
Nance led Northwestern with 17 points and 10 rebounds — nine on defense. Boo Buie added 16 points with four assists and Audige scored 14. The Wildcats (6-2, 1-0) shot 43%, sinking 10 more field goals than Maryland despite being outshot six 3-pointers to 10 by the Terps.
Hakim Hart scored 18 points to lead the Terrapins on 7-for-10 shooting, The rest of the team was 10-for-49. Fatts Russell added 11 points with five assists and Eric Ayala 10 points.
Maryland (5-4, 0-1) has now lost three in a row. Maryland finished at 29% shooting from the field and 15 of its 34 points in the second half came from the free throw line.
A 9-0 run early in the game put Northwestern ahead when Buie hit a jumper in the paint and then landed a 3-pointer, but the Wildcats could never get more than two possessions ahead.
Midway through the second half, Audige hit back-to-back jump shots and Elyjah Williams added a 3 pushing the lead to eight, 47-39 as Maryland went scoreless for four minutes missing four shots with two turnovers.
Donta Scott made two free throws and Russell hit from 3 as the Terrapins cut the gap to 47-44. But with 7:38 left, Maryland was shooting 23.5% in the second half, having made 4 of 17 shots.
Northwestern plays host to NJIT on Sunday, Dec. 12. Maryland is at No. 14 Florida next Sunday.
