PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers men's basketball team took their second loss of the season at home on Tuesday night.

The Maryland Terrapins shot (12-25) from three-point range and defeated the Scarlet Knights 68-60 at Jersey Mike's Arena. Guard Fatts Russell led the game in scoring with 23 points in 36 minutes played. Russell was (5-8) from three-points range and (7-16) from the field. 

His partner in the backcourt Eric Ayala had 22 points on (8-13) shooting and was (5-9) from behind the arc. Ayala added a team-high eight rebounds and three assists. Center Qudus Wahab chipped in with ten points and six rebounds in 24 minutes played. 

Scarlet Knights center Cliff Omoruyi reached double-figures in rebounding for the sixth time this season. Omoruyi had 13 rebounds and 11 points in the loss.

"Not the way I wanted to get this game started today," head coach Steve Pikiell said. "We really struggled at the beginning. You can't spot a really good team 20 points in the first half. Maryland, have to give them credit, they did a really good job, they look very confident out there. Our keys to this game where, rebounding and then stopping Fats and Eric Ayala, and obviously those guys both had great nights. We just have to play better."

Guard Geo Baker had another great night shooting from three point range with four triples and 16 points. Baker has now made 11 three-pointers in his last two games.



Baker moved past Geoff Billett for 12^th place all-time at RU in scoring. He is just 17 points away from 1500 for his career. He also tied John Battle for 13^th place all-time at RU in field goals. 

Guard Paul Mulcahy had his eighth game this season with at least seven assists. He entered the game third in the Big Ten in assist on the season.

Caleb McConnell, the Big Ten's leader in steals per game had three steals as he moved past Marquis Webb, Steve Worthy and Geoff Billet on the RU all-time steals list. 
He is currently tied with Ricky Shields and Mike Sherrod for 15^th place all-time.

"We have a lot of basketball left," Pikiell said. "Last year, we had to win the last game of the season in Minnesota. So, it's a long season, you just keep plugging through. This is a league that a lot of teams are going to have a lot of losses. And then we have the tournament after that. So, there's a lot of different ways that we can make our season to where we want to be."

The Scarlet Knights will be back in action on Saturday when they head on the road to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers at 6:30 p.m.