Niagara Purple Eagles @ Maryland Terrapins
Maryland opens Willard era with 71-49 win over Niagara
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- — Donta Scott scored 18 points, Jahmir Young added 14 and coach Kevin Willard won in his debut at Maryland with a 71-49 victory over Niagara in a season opener on Monday night.
Willard was named coach on March 21, 2022 after coaching Seton Hall the previous 12 seasons.
Scott was 7 of 13 from the floor and made 4 of 5 3-pointers. It was his 95th career game and he is now 56 points shy of a career 1,000. Young was 5-of-10 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and had four assists. Maryland shot 49% overall and made 9 of 20 from 3-point range.
Braxton Bayless scored 14 points to lead Niagara. Sam Iorio added 12 points, six rebounds and six assists.
A Julian Reese layup midway through the second half sparked a 12-4 surge, and Maryland led 60-43 with 4:39 remaining. Scott made a pair of 3-pointers during the stretch.
Maryland has won 46 consecutive home openers dating to the 1977-78 season during the Lefty Driesell era. It was also the teams first meeting since Maryland beat Niagara 86-70 in the opening round of the 2013 NIT.
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Game Information
College Park, MD
Referee:Brian Dorsey
Referee:Greg Langsdorf
Referee:Michael Kitts
2025-26 Standings
| Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrimack | 17-3 | - | 23-11 |
| Saint Peter's | 14-6 | 3 | 17-12 |
| Siena | 13-7 | 4 | 23-12 |
| Marist | 12-8 | 5 | 19-12 |
| Quinnipiac | 12-8 | 5 | 19-13 |
| Fairfield | 11-9 | 6 | 21-13 |
| Mount St. Mary's | 11-9 | 6 | 15-17 |
| Iona | 10-10 | 7 | 18-14 |
| Sacred Heart | 9-11 | 8 | 14-19 |
| Manhattan | 8-12 | 9 | 12-20 |
| Canisius | 5-15 | 12 | 10-21 |
| Niagara | 5-15 | 12 | 8-22 |
| Rider | 3-17 | 14 | 4-25 |
| Big Ten Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 19-1 | - | 37-3 |
| Nebraska | 15-5 | 4 | 28-7 |
| Michigan State | 15-5 | 4 | 27-8 |
| Illinois | 15-5 | 4 | 28-9 |
| Wisconsin | 14-6 | 5 | 24-11 |
| Purdue | 13-7 | 6 | 30-9 |
| UCLA | 13-7 | 6 | 24-12 |
| Ohio State | 12-8 | 7 | 21-13 |
| Iowa | 10-10 | 9 | 24-13 |
| Indiana | 9-11 | 10 | 18-14 |
| Minnesota | 8-12 | 11 | 15-18 |
| USC | 7-13 | 12 | 18-14 |
| Washington | 7-13 | 12 | 16-17 |
| Rutgers | 6-14 | 13 | 14-20 |
| Northwestern | 5-15 | 14 | 15-19 |
| Oregon | 5-15 | 14 | 12-20 |
| Maryland | 4-16 | 15 | 12-21 |
| Penn State | 3-17 | 16 | 12-20 |
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