Maryland men’s basketball snaps losing skid with dominant 92-68 win over UMBC

Maryland men’s basketball’s offensive struggles through its first four games were well documented. The Terps couldn’t find the bottom of the net from beyond the arc, they had trouble taking care of the basketball and looked disjointed overall and lacked much of a game plan.

But the Maryland team that took the floor Tuesday night looked completely different. 

Leading by just five at the second media timeout of the first half, the Terps blew the game wide open with a 36-8 run over the final twelve minutes of the half. They scored 57 points in the first half — the most in the Kevin Willard tenure — capped off by a Jamie Kaiser Jr. half court shot to beat the buzzer.

Maryland dominated UMBC (3-3) in a much-needed win. The Terps (2-3) excelled, cruising to a 92-68 victory. The win snapped a three-game losing skid for Maryland, as it bounced back for its first victory since the season opener.

The offensive eruption can largely be attributed to a noticeably quicker pace. Returning to their home floor for the first time in two weeks, the Terps’ intensity was high from the opening tip.

“We practiced yesterday for almost three hours, which I never do before a game,” Willard said.

Willard’s group was active in passing lanes, leading to a lot of fastbreak opportunities and easy buckets. They forced a season high 23 turnovers, and 15 in the first half alone.

“Pushing the tempo, running them off the three-point line, making them move the ball,” Jahmir Young said. “They’re one of the fastest teams in the country, so just trying to slow them down a little bit.”

Maryland made it a priority to take advantage of its stark size advantage right away. It went inside to Julian Reese early and often. Young and DeShawn Harris-Smith enjoyed the clearest driving lanes they’ve seen all season, doing much of their damage in the paint against a smaller UMBC team that provided little resistance inside.

Even when the Terps weren’t converting from the field, they were getting to the free-throw line at will. They shot 24-of-37, both season highs.

Reese notched his second double-double of the season, posting 15 points and 13 rebounds. Young scored a game-high 20, with nearly half of his points coming from the free-throw line — the guard shot an excellent 9-11 from the stripe.

Maryland’s struggles from the three-point line were a glaring issue through the first four games as the Terps entered Tuesday shooting a dismal 22 percent from beyond the arc. The Terps shot well from deep in the first half, converting on over 41 percent of their looks. But Maryland’s three-point struggles reemerged in the second half — it shot just one-of-nine — as it wasn’t all perfect offensively.

Despite the Terps shattering their season high in points, their defense was arguably more impressive as it has been all season — they have still yet to allow an opponent to score 70 points through five games. Maryland’s length and athleticism bothered a Retrievers squad that entered Tuesday averaging 83 points per game. 

Willard said aggressively sending full court pressure was a point of emphasis in practice in recent days.

“When you get a couple easy buckets early, it just gives you a little bit more confidence,” he said. “You’re able to kind of wear them down a little bit.”

UMBC shot just 39.7 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from beyond the arc and couldn’t establish a rhythm offensively until Willard pulled his starters late. Willard was able to unload nearly his entire roster for the first time this season with the dominant performance. 

The Terps will look to carry over their excellence into their next outing on Saturday, at home against South Alabama.