WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Eric Ayala scored 23 points and Maryland clamped down on defense down the stretch to snag a 63-54 victory over No.
7 UConn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night. The 10th-seeded Terrapins held UConn to 32% shooting to overcome the Huskies' strong physical game.
Maryland was outrebounded 40-29 but its defense carried the Terps to a second round matchup against No. 2 Alabama. Maryland (17-13) shot 51% for the game and converted 9 of 18 from behind the arc.
The Terps built a 14-point cushion that UConn cut to 53-48 with 2:53 remaining. Ayala and Darryl Morsell each made a pair of three throws to push the lead back to nine.