Maryland Basketball: Taking the Opponent’s Best Shot

Maryland 73  Rhode Island  55  Final

After cruising through Holy Cross, the Terrapins welcomed a very chippy Rhode Island team to College Park. As the season goes on, Maryland would get used to going from the lovable underdogs to the team with the bullseye on its back. It was obvious from the start, that Rhode Island came in here with a chip on their shoulder. With several players from the Washington DC area, they played like the plucky underdog looking to knockoff a top five team.

After a slow start the Terps would get defensive. Their defense would keep them in the game allowing the offense to catch up as they would eventually pull away. Cowan Jr. would help spur the run as he controlled the pace. Jalen Smith would put up big numbers on offense (19 points) while Aaron Wiggins grabbed 13 rebounds.

First Half

In the first four minutes we saw Rhode Island head coach David Cox get warned for being out of the box, double technical called on Darryl Morsell (UMD) and Tyrese Martin (URI) and a double foul on Donta Scott (UMD) and Jermaine Harris (URI).

Luckily after that, we were able to get to basketball.

The first 12 minutes of the first half was defined by a couple of things. Turnovers and the paint. Rhode Island drove the ball to the basket, finishing around the rim and getting to the freed throw line. That enabled the Rams to go up by 12, 24-12.

Maryland was dumping the ball inside and though they didn’t initially finish, it opened up the rest of the floor. But the Terps would have 11 turnovers in the first 12 minutes and the led to them not getting into any type of offensive rhythm.

The last eight minutes of the half, you could see it swing towards Maryland. The pace picked up and the game turned from rock-em-sock-em to a faster pace. The Terps wold slowly but surely takeover the half as Rhode Island started to lose some composure. as soon as the Terps went zone. Rhode Island stopped driving to the basket, choosing to settle for out of rhythm threes and contested jumpers.

Maryland would go on a 12-0 run that put them in front, 30-28.

Halftime: Maryland 35  Rhode Island 32

Key Stats:

3FG: Maryland 5-10; Rhode Island 3-11

Bench Points: Maryland 16 Rhode Island 8

PtsOffTO: Maryland 10 Rhode Island 14

Second Half

Both teams start off the half a little cold. Rhode Island is 1-9. Maryland 2-7.

But Maryland continued to drive the ball to the basket and the fouls would follow. In the first 5:30 minutes, the Terps had five free throw attempts and Rhode Island had five team fouls. This keyed a 6-0 run that would give Maryland a 45-37.

Anthony Cowan Jr. would hit a three pointer giving Maryland their biggest lead of the half with 12:45 to go.

Rhode Island’s struggles from the field would continue. They are now 3-19 in the second half. Maryland is up 55-42.

The Terps lead would grow to 21 as Rhode Island never got on track.

Key Game Stats:

FG%: MD:  44.6%; URI:  29.9%

FstBkPt: MD:  24; URI:  4

PtsPaint:  MD: 38;  URI: 24

Individual Leaders:

Points: J Smith (MD) 19; Dowtin (URI) 14

Rebounds: Wiggins (MD) 13; Langevine (URI) 17

Assists: Cowan Jr (MD) 5; Russell (URI) 4

Quotes:

Head Coach Mark Turgeon – “In the second half defensively we were really, really, really good”

Head Coach Mark Turgeon (on early turnovers) – “A lot of our turnovers was guys trying to do too much.”

Anthony Cowan (on being better offensively in the second half) – “I just let the game come to me a little bit more. In second half, my teammates starting to find me. See the ball go in the basket a couple of times. Got my confidence up.”

Eric Ayala  (On what went well in the second half) – “Second half we were more together as a team”

Eric Ayala (On Cowan) – “He took over in the second half.”

 

 

Related Posts