Maryland basketball used timely three-pointers and four players in double figures to defeat Michigan on the road.
Saturday’s match-up between Maryland and Michigan was an important early Big Ten Conference test for two teams that are in similar positions in the league. The Wolverines came into the game favored by eight, but the Terrapins seized first half momentum and earned an important road victory, 77-70.
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The Terrapins broke open a close game in the first half and led 37-28 at the break. Michigan used a 9-1 run to start the second half to get within one, but Maryland pushed the lead back up with timely three-point field goals. Michigan never led in the second half and Maryland’s lead never got higher than seven points.
The Terps were excellent from three-point range all game (10-of-15). Jared Nickens, a junior guard from New Jersey, was a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range. Senior forward Damonte Dodd scored a career high 15 points and Melo Trimble added 13. Freshman Justin Jackson was also excellent with 15 points and six rebounds.
For Michigan, it was a missed opportunity to protect home court. The loss knocks their overall record to 11-5 and 1-2 in conference play. They entered the game as an 11 seed, according to Bracketmatrix.com. A loss today will probably drop them out of the tournament. There is plenty of time still to make up ground, but the Wolverines have not left much room for error.
Sophomore Moritz Wagner played well with 17 points and five rebounds. Junior forward D.J. Wilson was also efficient with 13 points on 5-of-7 from the field. Zak Irvin scored 15 points and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman added 12, but both were not particularly efficient, putting up 27 shots.
Overall, the Wolverines were just 8-of-21 from three-point range. It is tough to win in John Beilein’s system shooting under 40 percent from beyond the arc.
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With the victory the Terrapins moved to 14-2 on the season and 2-1 in conference play. This is a young team still finding itself, and road victories are always helpful. Look for them to continue to mold and gel together and that makes them dangerous in a pretty wide open Big Ten.