PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Damonte Dodd scored six points inside in a 17-6 spurt to start the second half and Maryland avoided its first four-game losing streak since the 2004-05 season with a 79-59 victory over Rutgers on Tuesday night.
Dodd had all nine of his points and six of his seven rebounds in the second half as the Terrapins (23-7, 11-6 Big Ten) won for only the third time in eight games. The skid took Maryland out of the Top 25.
Maryland did not put a scorer into double figures until Ivan Bender (10 points) scored on a layup with 4:07 to play. Melo Trimble led the Terps with 11 points and L.G. Gill had 10.
Mike Williams had 14 points to lead Rutgers (13-17, 2-15), which has lost six in a row and 16 of 18. C.J. Gettys added 12 points and Deshawn Freeman had 11.
Leading 32-28 at the half, Maryland took control after Gettys cut the lead to two points with a basket.
Dodd scored on a layup, Kevin Huerter and Trimble hit 3-pointers and Dodd scored on a follow to make it 42-30. After consecutive baskets by Williams cut the lead to 42-34, Dodd scored on a slam, Huerter hit a jumper and Dion Wiley hit a 3-pointer to make it 49-34 and Rutgers trailed by double figures the rest of the way.
BIG PICTURE
Maryland: The Terps can clinch a top four seed in the Big Ten Tournament with a win over Michigan State in its regular-season finale.
Rutgers: Nothing changes. The Scarlet Knights are going to be the lowest seed (No. 14) when the conference tournament gets underway on March 8.
NEXT UP
Maryland hosts Michigan State on Saturday to finish regular season.
Rutgers will honor its seniors in home finale against Illinois on Saturday.
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More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org
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