Maryland men’s basketball defeated Penn State, 81-75, at Xfinity Center on Dec. 6. The overtime thriller was littered with ups and downs, but the Terps squeezed out an impressive win.
The action packed game delivered several key numbers, plays and takeaways.
Five Key Numbers:
28: The Terps started slow on offense yet again. They only scored 28 first-half points and shot 28 percent (9-for-32) from the floor. Maryland shot considerably worse than Penn State, which attempted six fewer shots.
53: Maryland out-rebounded Penn State, 53-31, on the night. Four Terps had eight or more rebounds. More impressively, Maryland had a 23-9 advantage on the offensive glass. This led to easy looks around the rim, with 18 second-chance points.
17: There were 17 lead changes in the game, all occurring in the second half or overtime. The game was close from start to finish, with neither team stringing together a run better than nine points.
52: Julian Reese and Jahmir Young combined for 52 points on the night. Reese tied his career high from last season with 24 points and Young tallied a game-high 28 points. Both players carried the Terps offensively and were especially efficient from the free-throw line (22 of 27).
9: Maryland has struggled to play from behind under Willard. Entering Dec. 6, the Terps had lost nine straight games when losing at halftime dating back to last season. The streak ended after Maryland entered halftime down 28-30.
Three Key Plays:
1. Jamie Kaiser Jr.’s 3-pointer to tie the game.
Kaiser provided a brief spark off the bench in place of a struggling Donta Scott in the first half. Kaiser sank two free throws and on the next offensive possession he drilled a corner three at the 3:07 mark to tie the game at 25.
The five straight points he recorded were all he delivered in the first half, but they helped the Terps come back from a double-digit deficit. He finished with 10 points and four steals and made several key plays down the stretch.
2. Donta Scott’s and-one.
Scott got a driving layup fall through the nylon despite contact from the defense, giving the Terps a five-point advantage late in overtime. He connected on a crucial shot after struggling all night, but did miss the free throw.
3. DeShawn Harris Smith’s and-one.
Jahmir Young found Harris-Smith under the basket, and Harris-Smith finished a difficult layup through contact with less than 30 seconds left in overtime. The basket and the free throw gave the Terps a four-point advantage.
Five Key Takeaways:
1. Donta Scott’s struggles continue.
Scott was 0-for-8 from the floor before scoring his first points late in regulation — a go-ahead bucket with less than five minutes left. However, Scott appeared to lack confidence throughout the night. He finished 2-for-11 but added 10 rebounds.
2. Julian Reese can be an all-conference big man.
Reese was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick last season, but he is continuing to improve. He played 42 minutes, stayed out of foul trouble and largely converted his free throws against Penn State. Two of his biggest struggles turned out to strengths against the Nittany Lions.
3. Jamie Kaiser Jr. has starter potential.
Kaiser played a career-high 27 minutes in the win and was the X-factor for Maryland. Whenever the game appeared to get away from the Terps, Kaiser answered with a game-altering play. He got it done defensively, and his ability to stretch the floor on offense makes him a candidate to move into a starter role.
4. The Terps had success playing bully ball.
Maryland had the most success when running the offense through Julian Reese. He bullied former Terp Qudus Wahab in the post and caused him to foul out with four minutes left in regulation. With 3-pointers again not falling (5 of 25), the Terps pounded the rock inside.
5. Time is ticking.
Maryland had a gritty win but inconsistencies will hold them back from winning against the Big Ten’s best. The Terps’ first two conference games have featured 3-point shooting and turnover woes. Maryland must address them before getting into the full conference slate beginning on Jan. 2.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics