Maryland Basketball: Tremont Waters sends Terps home in Round of 32

LSU Basketball (28-6) won this game for their fallen teammate, Wade Sims, as Tremont Waters comes up big when it mattered most. For Maryland Basketball, their journey ends in the Round of 32.

For Maryland basketball, a win against LSU Basketball meant playing a Sweet 16 home game in their back yard, Washington, D.C. For the Tigers, a win would give them their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2006.

This matchup was a battle of two strong frontcourts. Bruno Fernando and Jalen Smith vs Naz Reid and Kavell Bigby-Williams. The game started off with some solid scoring by both teams, a few silly turnovers and a scoring drought by Maryland basketball.

The Terps were down 18-11 at the 10:37 mark and were shooting 1-of-9 from the three-point line.

At the 6:27 mark, the Terps had been struggling to make shots as Darryl Morsell missed a layup that got too much of the rim and not enough roll. After Anthony Cowan Jr. missed a jumper, Tremont Waters ran the length of the court for a layup causing a Terp’s timeout. The Tigers led 26-15 at this point.

LSU’s largest lead was 15 points, 30-15, but two three-pointers by Eric Ayala and Morsell and another made basket by Ayala cut the deficit to 10, 33-23 with 3:20 left in the first half.

Maryland basketball ended the half down nine points thanks to two three-pointers by Aaron Wiggins. They were struggling mightily with layups and dunks. LSU forced them to be one-dimensional and use the three-point shot to get back in the game.

With a halftime score of 38-29 LSU basketball, the Terps finished the half shooting 10-for-35 (28.6 percent) and 5-for-18 (27 percent) from the three-point line.

Every time the Terps put the ball in the post the Tigers rotated very well defensively to cause a contested shot.

Reid was the high-point man at halftime with eight points followed by Mays’ six points, two rebounds, and one steal.

Morsell led the Terps with five points, two assists, and two rebounds and a block.  Smith and Ayala had four points apiece. LSU basketball wasn’t making things easy on the trio of Cowan Jr., Smith and Fernando as they were a combined 3-for-14 from the field.

The Tigers opened up the first half on a 6-2 run, 44-31 behind solid offensive output from Waters as he made two baskets and assisted on a Bigby-Williams score.

Cowan Jr. hit a three-pointer to get the Terps within seven at 46-39 but an interesting moment came as he came up limping after scrambling for a loose ball.

Ayala took over at the point guard spot. The Terps were fighting back. Their tight zone defense and boxing out for rebounds got much better in the second half. The Tigers saw their lead get cut to five points, 49-44, with 11:14 to go in the game with a Sweet 16 berth on the line.

LSU missed its last 10-of-11 shots from the field with 10:27 to go.

The last eight minutes of this game were going to be crucial for each team. The Terps were only down four, 55-51. Both teams were in the bonus. The Terps tied the game at 55 apiece with 5:48 to go.

The lead changed hands back and forth inside four minutes. The zone defense by the Terps frustrated the Tigers and it’s what got them back in this game.

The Terps led 40-30 on the boards with 2:57 left as the game was tied at 62.

Smith hit a huge three to tie the game again with 19.5 seconds to go. Waters hit the game-winning shot driving to the basket. He sent the Terps home 69-67.

Mays led all scorers with 16 points, five rebounds, and two steals. Smith led the way for the Terps with 15 points, eight rebounds and five blocks.

The Tigers are moving on to the Sweet 16 in Washington D.C. to play the winner of Michigan State and Minnesota.