BALTIMORE, Maryland January 14, 2015 - There were four players in double figures Wednesday Night in College Park, Maryland as the Terrapins beat back Rutgers, 73-65. And while Jared Nickens was, indeed, one of those four, he did not lead the parade. Not im total points, at least. But in clutch and critical points, it was the precocious freshman leading all of the way. In the aftermath of the win, the No. 11 (Coaches Poll, No. 14 in AP) Terps improved to 16-2 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten. No fewer than four other teams are right behind Maryland at 3-1 in the league, so it's not like Maryland has opened up eny breathing room. But still, if you told Mark Turgeon, the Maryland Coach, that in the Terp's first season in the basketball-crazy Big Ten, and while playing three of his first four conference games on the road, Maryland would take the court Wednesday Night, in only its second conference home game, tied for first, and would, then, win that game against a Rutgers team that had just whacked powerful Wisonsin, he would take it every single time. Indeed he would.
Nickens had 12 points, all on majestic three-point shots. One came in the first half, which ended with Maryland up by seven points. Two more came in the second half as Maryland scrambled desperately to overcome a Rutgers squad that opened the second half on an 11-0 run. Nickens contributed two more threes in that stretch. But the biggest shot of the night came with just over two minutes left and the Terps clinging to a one-point lead. Maryland worked it around the perimeter, then inside to Wells. The senior spotted Nickens squared up and open deep on the left side of the court. The pass allowed Nickens to catch it and immediately launch a shot. The shot caught nothing but the bottom of the net and Maryland had a four point lead. Rutgers never got any closer.
Jared Nickens is six feet, seven inches tall and, according to his Terp Bio, weighs 200 pounds. He is from Monmouth Junction, New Jersey and attended the Westtown School. He jumped to the attention of even casual Maryland fans when he scored 15 points off the bench in Maryland's huge non-conference win over powerful Iowa State. Nickens scored from inside and out in that game and seemed all but unstopable. In the second half of that game, one play in particular showed how much promise Nickens has. With the Cyclones in a man-to-man, Nickens took a pass and burst pass his defender and into the lane near the foul line. Another Iowa State player came out to block Nickens progress, and the original defender pushed up against him from behind. Without hesitation, Nickens took a half a step backwards to ward off the pursuer, then put a head fake on the bigger defender in front of him. When that defender left his feet, Nickens hesitated only a moment, then jumped also. He seemed to hang in the air waiting for the defender in front to return to the floor. As the defender headed down, Nickens put up a soft one-hander from ten feet away, and the shot caught only the cords at the bottom of the net.
Maryland plays Michigan State for the second time Saturday afternoon when the Spartans visit the Xfinity Center in a game to be televised by ESPN.
Up-to-the-Minute Big Ten Basketball Standings
1. Maryland: Big Ten Record: 4-1, .800 pct; Overall: 16-2
2. Wisconsin: Big Ten Record: 3-1, .750 pct, 0.5 Games Behind; Overall: 15-2
2. Indiana: Big Ten Record: 3-1, .750 pct, 0.5 Games Behind; Overall: 13-4
2. Iowa: Big Ten Record: 3-1, .750 pct, 0.5 Games Behind; Overall: 12-5
2. Michigan State: Big Ten Record: 3-1, .750 pct, 0.5 Games Behind; Overall: 12-5
6. Ohio State: Big Ten Record: 3-2, .600 pct, 1 Game Behind; Overall: 14-4
6. Michigan: Big Ten Record: 3-2, .600 pct, 1 Game Behind; Overall: 10-7
8. Nebraska: Big Ten Record: 2-2, .500 pct, 1.5 Games Behind; Overall: 10-6
8. Purdue: Big Ten Record: 2-2, .500 pct, 1.5 Games Behind; Overall: 10-7
10. Rutgers: Big Ten Record: 2-3, .400 pct, 2 Games Behind; Overall: 10-8
10. Illinois: Big Ten Record: 2-3, .400 pct, 2 Games Behind; Overall: 12-6
12. Northwestern: Big Ten Record: 1-3, .250 pct, 2.5 Games Behind; Overall: 10-7
13. Penn State: Big Ten Record: 0-4, .000 pct, 3.5 Games Behind; Overall: 12-5
14. Minnesota: Big Ten Record: 0-5, .000 pct, 4 Games Behind; Overall: 11-7
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