Four players scored in double figures for the Maryland men’s basketball team in an 80-64 win against UMBC on Dec. 29, the final tune-up before Big Ten play restarts.
Maryland (10-3 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) won its final two nonconference games and will dive back into league play this weekend. The Terps resume conference play on New Year’s Day at Michigan (7-5, 1-0).
Graduate student Don Carey (19 points) and seniors Jahmir Young (18), Hakim Hart (16) and Donta Scott (11) all scored in double figures against UMBC. Carey’s 19 points are a season high for the Georgetown transfer.
“We’ve been pretty good with that all year,” head coach Kevin Willard said. “We are a balanced team when it comes to scoring. Every night someone different can get you [points]. … If you look at the roster, there are guys on it that can get you on any given night.”
Willard started the same lineup he did against Saint Peter’s, though sophomore big man Julian Reese returned from the shoulder injury he suffered against UCLA on Dec. 14.
“He had seven full days off. No basketball, no contact. He’s only had two practices, so he’s going to look a little rusty,” Willard said. “He kind of couldn’t get in the flow of the game. To play the minutes he did against a good basketball team, I was very happy with where he was.”
Reese finished with seven points off the bench (7-for-12 from the free-throw line).
“I feel I changed the game a little bit with [getting to the free-throw line], attacking the rim,” Reese said. “… I feel like that overall changed the game for the team and I feel like we built momentum and got us to the bonus eventually and got other guys to the line as well.”
The neighboring schools went back and forth in the first half. Neither team built a double-figure lead. The game was tied three times. However, Maryland fell behind early in the first half because of a scoring drought that lasted a little more than two minutes.
But after ending their scoring drought with a Jahmir Young jumper, the Terps went on a 14-1 run across three minutes, shooting 6-for-7 from the field to come from behind and take a seven-point lead. Maryland cooled off during the final two minutes when it went through another brief scoring drought to end the half up only 33-30 on the Retrievers.
The Terps shot 1-for-14 from deep during the first half. The only 3-pointer came from Carey.
“They know I have the utmost confidence in them,” Willard said. “I never talk about not shooting or stop shooting. They understand with the amount of work we put in, the amount of individual work we put in, the only thing I ever get mad about is defense and turnovers.”
Maryland finished the game 6-for-24 from 3-point range, mostly thanks to Carey (5-for-7 from 3-point range). The Terps made up for the lackluster shooting night by getting to the free-throw line (22-for-32).
“I think once late January or February comes, there are no whistles blowing anymore,” Willard said. “So, it’s probably more at this time of the year. Once conference play comes it’s hard to get to the free-throw line.”
Maryland slowly built its lead in the second half until exploding for another huge run. The Terps went on a 16-4 run to grab a game-high 14-point, 60-46 lead. Carey caught fire and scored 16 of his 19 points during the second half, knocking down four 3-pointers to ice the game for Maryland.
“It’s huge,” Willard said of Carey’s performance. “… If he can kind of get going then it’s going to open up something things for Donta, Julian and it’s just going to spread the floor a little bit more.”
“It definitely feels good to see one go in,” Carey said. “But in terms of my demeanor, I’ve been consistent with that. I know the type of player I am and I know the type of work I put in. And I know how practice goes as well, so eventually, the work will show.”
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