The Maryland men’s basketball team dropped its third game in four conference contests, as Iowa defeated the Terps, 81-67, on Jan. 15.
For Maryland, which moved to 11-6 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten, its rough January continues (1-3). Their Terps will have a chance to get back on track on Jan. 19 when they have their rematch against Michigan. The Wolverines defeated the Terps on New Year’s Day, 81-46.
Maryland beat Ohio State, 80-73, on Jan. 8 behind a season-high 30 points and 11 rebounds by senior guard Jahmir Young, but the Terps could not keep the momentum going. Young followed up his performance with a 20-point outing, but that was not enough to top the Hawkeyes.
Maryland mustered a four-point lead in the first half before Iowa went on an 8-0 run to take control of the game. Iowa built its largest lead of the game (16) behind junior Tony Perkins’ 15 first-half points. Perkins finished with 22 points.
“Perkins was phenomenal tonight. Then when he … makes the shots he made, he’s just given them a boost that I think is the biggest difference in the way they’re playing,” Willard said of Iowa (12-6, 4-3).
Willard is a fan of Perkins (10.9 points, 3.5 rebounds per game).
“[Perkins] knows who he is and knows his game and sticks to it,” Willard added. “He doesn’t try to do anything he doesn’t need to do and I think when you have a guy like that, it just helps everyone else on the offensive end.”
Sophomore big man Julian Reese and Young tried to keep the Terps in the game by scoring 10 and 12 points in the first half, respectively. But it wasn’t enough as the Hawkeyes continued to score en route to a 43-33 lead.
“I think [Reese] is making great strides,” Willard said. “I’m happy with the way he’s progressing. He looks like he’s back from the [shoulder] injury fully, which is big.”
The Terps were able to cut the lead down to three points in the second half thanks to 3-pointers from Donta Scott, Hakim Hart and Don Carey early in the half. But that would be the closest they would get, as the Terps couldn’t contain the Hawkeyes from that point on.
Maryland allowed Iowa to shoot 60 percent (33-for-55) from the field, while the Terps shot 47 percent from the field (28-for-59).
“They’re going to get some buckets in transition, especially at home,” Willard said. “I just thought their execution in the half-court was really the difference.”
EMILIEN OUT: Maryland reserve forward Patrick Emilien sat out the game against Iowa with a foot injury, and Willard said after the game he’d be out for “a while.” Emilien is averaging 17.3 minutes and 2.5 points per game.
“He’s been hurt in every loss,” Willard said. “So you look at his 17 minutes a game and you look at his stats, and you don’t think he’s not that valuable, but he’s probably the most valuable guy we have because he doesn’t only back up Juju, he backs up Donta.”
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