Feature photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics.
Midway through the second half against the Michigan State Spartans, Maryland Terrapins guard Melo Trimble converted a three-point shot and tied the game at 53.
It was Trimble’s first field goal of the game and the first time in 25:11 minutes that the Spartans weren’t leading. For the Terrapins, it would be their last field goal for the next 10 minutes and 12 seconds.
Despite an impressive defensive effort, third-seeded Maryland struggled offensively late in the game as second-seeded Michigan State eliminated them in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals in Indianapolis on Saturday, 64-61.
Maryland jumped out to a 10-9 lead at the under-sixteen media timeout in the first half, thanks to offensive contributions from their three starting upperclassmen. Forward Robert Carter Jr. scored five early points, while guard Rasheed Sulaimon and forward Jake Layman, scored three and two points respectively.
Carter Jr. led the Terps on offense with 18 points and eight rebounds. He made 6-of-10 field goals and 3-of-5 shots from behind the three-point line.
Center Diamond Stone got involved in the first half when he blocked forward Marvin Clark Jr.’s layup. Moments later, he scored his first two points with 12:53 remaining in the first half when he tipped the ball in the hoop after Trimble missed a jumper.
Following Stone’s first score, the Spartans went on a 9-2 run to take a 26-16 lead, their first double-digit advantage of the day. The run was capped off as forward Matt Costello scored his first four points on back-to-back buckets before the under-eight media timeout. Costello finished with ten points and five rebounds.
In a 74-65 victory over the Terps in January, Costello posted a double double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. He also had three blocks in that contest. The Terps limited him on Saturday.
In response to the 9-2 run, Maryland rode an 8-2 run to a four-point deficit. During the run, Sulaimon and guard Jared Nickens each converted a three.
Michigan State built their lead back up to double digits, 34-24. On the next possession, Sulaimon missed a shot with some contact and head coach Mark Turgeon expressed his frustration with the call. Turgeon was whistled for a technical and the Spartans expanded their lead to 36-24 after a pair of technical free throws.
Each team turned the ball over four times in the first half, but the Spartans outscored the Terps 10-0 off of turnovers. At the half, Maryland trailed 41-33. The Terps won the turnover battle by the end of the game, committing only six, compared to the Spartans’ 13. Despite this, Michigan State outscored them 14-10 off of turnovers.
In the first half, Maryland was outplayed on the boards, in the paint and in transition. Michigan State outrebounded them 17-15, outscored them in the paint 18-8 and on the fast break 9-0. Spartans Guard Denzel Valentine dished out nine assists in the first 20 minutes. Trimble missed all six of his field goals in the first half, he would go on to finish the game with 11 points on 2-of-15 shooting and two assists.
After the break, the Terps dialed up their defense. Valentine recorded only one assist in the second half and the Terps held the Spartans to 23 points. The Spartans shot 28.6 percent from the field after shooting 51.7 percent in the first half.
With 10:46 to go in the game, Stone scored to pull the Terps within three. Maryland forced guard Lourawls Nairn Jr. to commit a turnover on the ensuing inbound pass and Trimble hit his first field goal of the game, from downtown, tying it at 53 a piece.
Nearly four minutes later, Carter Jr. sunk a pair of free throws to give the Terps their first lead since 3:25 into the game.
For the final 10 minutes of the game, the Terps offense was almost stagnant. It took them over 10 minutes to make another field goal. With 14 seconds remaining, Melo Trimble quickly drove down the right lane for a layup.
With 10 seconds left on the next possession, Valentine missed the first free throw of a one-and-one and Carter Jr. grabbed the rebound and sent the ball up for Trimble. Trimble missed a fast paced layup attempt and with .8 seconds remaining.
Valentine was fouled and hit a pair of free throws. He finished the game with a team-leading 18 points, ten assists and seven rebounds.
In the closing second, Trimble attempted a desperation 60-footer and appeared to draw contact, but there was no call, and the Terps were cooked.
Maryland awaits their seeding in the NCAA tournament, they’ll find out tomorrow on Selection Sunday. A four seed seems likely.
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