Maryland’s men’s basketball lost to Oregon, 64-54, on Jan. 2.
The Terrapins, still in search of their first conference win of the season, will host Indiana on Jan. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Xfinity Center. Maryland dropped to 7-7 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten after its first game of the new year.
The Terrapins shot just 28 percent (18 of 65) from the field against Oregon.
“We didn’t shoot the percentage that we needed to shoot,” Maryland head coach Buzz Williams said. “But I wouldn’t necessarily say that it was what I would call a red-light shot. I thought we shot a lot of green-light shots. We just didn’t make them.”
More than half of Maryland shots were from deep, but the Terrapins went 7 of 35 from three. Williams mentioned the team’s quick pace will lead to more threes, but he also said his team has to finish layups at a higher rate.
“I think it’s got to tilt that way with our roster, the way that it is,” Williams said. “… I don’t necessarily think that we’re going to be a ‘Moneyball’ team. Our shot diet has been pretty good throughout the year. I do think our 3-point jump-shot shooting percentage is probably going to grow with our roster the way that it is. And if that’s the case, the consequence to that is, if you’re shooting more long shots, it’s hard to get long rebounds. And so, it’s a little bit of a delicate balance.”
Oregon shot 48 percent (23 of 47). With Maryland forward Pharrel Payne out, the Ducks dominated the paint, outscoring the Terrapins 32-12.
Senior forward Solomon Washington finished with a double-double (17 points and 12 rebounds) and played nearly the entire game, logging 38 minutes. Oregon had three players in double figures, with center Nate Bittle leading the way with 16 points.
“He’s an elite-level defender, and he’s carrying a lot of invisible burden to do some of the things that we’ve always asked him to do, and then also do some of the things that we’re missing relative to injury,” Williams said of Washington. “I thought his concentration level relative to executing those things was better, was the best that it has been.”
Maryland dug itself a hole early. An 8-0 run gave the Terrapins an 8-6 lead, they did not lead again for the rest of the half. Oregon responded with a 9-0 run to take a 15-8 lead as Maryland struggled to score. The Terrapins went more than seven minutes without a field goal, with their only points during that stretch coming from free throws by freshman guard Darius Adams and Washington to cut the deficit to 15-10.
It wasn’t until guard Myles Rice knocked down a jumper that Maryland ended its drought, which marked its first field goal since 16:13 remained in the half. The Terrapins finished the half shooting 27 percent (9 of 33) compared to Oregon’s 50 percent (13 of 26).
Despite the struggles, Maryland kept the game close and went into halftime trailing by just seven points, 34-27.
The Terrapins continued to chip away at Oregon’s lead early in the second half, but both teams went scoreless for more than two minutes. That ended when senior forward Elijah Saunders hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 43 — the second tie of the game — but it didn’t last long.
Oregon answered with a basket to retake the lead, then delivered a blow to Maryland’s hopes of gaining control. The Ducks went on a 14-5 run to take a 57-48 lead with a little less than 1:30 remaining, sealing the win and keeping Maryland at bay.
“We’re dependent on getting to the bonus,” Williams said. “Oregon doesn’t foul at a high rate. We don’t foul at a high rate. We never got to the bonus, I don’t think, until the very, very end of the second half. I think some of that needs to be with our pace in attacking the rim. I thought we did better with that to start the second half.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics