Maryland men’s basketball struggled to get it going in the first half once again on Thursday, which ultimately put the Terps in a hole too big to come out of, as they fell to Rutgers 64-50. The result was Maryland’s second-straight double-digit conference loss.
In its previous game against Michigan, Maryland struggled in the first half, going down by 30 points at the break. The Terps’ first half struggles followed them to New Jersey, as they shot just 25% from the field and 3-14 from three in the first half, and scored a total of 17 points before halftime.
Coach Kevin Willard believed the lack of offensive productivity from the jump was not due to bad shot selection, but possibly the amount of time spent away from XFINITY Center.
“Sometimes the schedule dictates how you play and right now we’ve had three tough games on the road,” Willard said. “We’ve played well at home, just haven’t been home lately. I have the utmost confidence in these guys, we’ll get it going offensively, I’m not so worried.”
While neither end of the floor found success for the Terps, they did have it going on the defensive side of the ball in the first half. Maryland forced Rutgers into nine first half turnovers and 21.4% shooting from the three-point line. But the lack of shot making from the Terps led to them to a seven-point halftime deficit, 24-17.
Guards Don Carey and Ian Martinez were the only Terps to score more than two in the first half. The senior scored six, while the junior scored five.
The Terps tried to mount a comeback at the start of the second half, getting within four points. However, 12-straight points in favor of the Scarlet Knights ultimately put a halt to the Terps’ hopes, as they just didn’t have enough firepower to secure a victory. Maryland shot 59% from the field and 62.5% from three in the second half, but its defense didn’t stop Rutgers’ offense enough. Three Scarlet Knights scored in double figures, led by senior guard Paul Mulcahy, who scored 15 points on a perfect 6-6 shooting from the field.
“He affects the game, he’s one of the better passers I’ve seen in college basketball, he’s unselfish, he has great confidence,” Willard said. “But I thought the move to him playing point guard last year was the difference in the way they finished the season last year and obviously the way they’ve started this year.”
Senior guards Cam Spencer and Caleb McConnell scored 13 and 10, respectively, for Rutgers.
The only Terps to finish in double-digit points in the loss were Carey and graduate student guard Jahmir Young. Carey finished with 12 on 4-8 shooting from three, while Young finished with 13. Young also chipped in four rebounds and three assists.
Now having lost two in a row, the Terps will look to right the ship on Sunday when they travel back to College Park to take on No. 24 Ohio State.
