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Maryland Basketball: Stifling defense helps Terps beat Purdue

LINCOLN, NE - FEBRUARY 6: Bruno Fernando #23 of the Maryland Terrapins drives on Brady Heiman #45 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on February 6, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - FEBRUARY 6: Bruno Fernando #23 of the Maryland Terrapins drives on Brady Heiman #45 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on February 6, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)

No.24 Maryland basketball (19-6,10-4 Big Ten) used their defense to jumpstart a stellar offensive performance in the second half to snap No.12 Purdue Boilermakers (17-7, 10-3 Big Ten) win streak.

The Purdue Boilermakers jumped out to a 5-0 lead led by Carson Edwards.

The closest No. 24 Maryland basketball got to taking the lead in the first half was when they tied the game up at 10 apiece after Eric Ayala hit a three-pointer.

Edwards had 17 points and four rebounds at the break and the Purdue Boilermakers held an eight-point, 38-30 lead. Edwards showed why he’s one of the best players in the Big Ten and the country. In the first half, he took control of the game and made some smart plays.

It was up to Maryland basketball to find a way to stop him. In the second half, Maryland’s defense gave them confidence. They were blocking shots left and right causing Purdue to take bad shots.

Maryland tied the game up at 40 again behind those efforts and later at 48 under 12 minutes to go. Ayala got the crowd excited after making Edwards fall and draining a corner three ball. At 50 points a piece it was anyone’s game and Maryland had the momentum playing solid defense and converting their opportunities on offense.

For the Terps, Anthony Cowan Jr. (11 points), Ayala (15 points) and Aaron Wiggins (11 points) helped the Terps take a 55-52 lead under eight minutes left in the game.

Edwards could not buy a bucket at this point and being at home certainly helped the Terps keep their foot on the gas.

At the 5:44 mark, a big slam by Bruno Fernando caused Purdue to call a timeout. The Terps hit seven of their last nine shots on a 6-0 run leading 59-52. Edwards was out of rhythm. He missed two free throws and his facial expression said everything as far as how the game turned.

The Boilermakers looked gassed and the Terps kept taking advantage. After some nice ball movement led to a Jalen Smith dunk and foul, the game was theirs for the taking at 62-54 with 2:25 remaining.

Maryland basketball snapped Purdue’s eight-game winning streak and tied the season series with a final score of 70-56.

The Terps ended the game on a 28-8 run. Fernando and Jalen Smith were the better frontcourt tandem in this matchup. Smith finished with 16 points and four rebounds and Fernando finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists. Ayala, Cowan Jr., and Wiggins combined for 38 points. For Purdue, Edwards was their only player in double digits with 24 points. Outside of him, nobody else stood out.

This was a great win for the Terps as they continue to build from the route of Nebraska on the road. It was an ugly first half for them but they turned it around. Next up, they play the sixth-ranked Michigan Wolverines on Saturday at noon on FOX.

Purdue goes back home to play the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday as well. That game is at 4 pm eastern time on the Big Ten Network.