It was a special night for not only Maryland basketball fans, but for all college basketball fans as The Terps celebrated the enshrinement and the life and legacy of one of the best players ever to wear the Maryland jersey as well as one of the best players ever in college basketball Len Bias. As Bias last month was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
It was an electric night as Maryland took on Virginia Tech in the Big 10-ACC Challenge. Maryland did its best to keep pace with Virginia Tech, but in the end, the Terp’s just didn’t have it and fell to Virginia Tech 62-58 in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.
The Terp’s (5-3) were looking to get things back on track after a loss to Louisville last week in the Championship game of the Bar Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship 63-55.
It was a back and forth game with 10 lead changes and a game of runs, as both teams in the second half traded runs as midway through the second half at the 10:06 mark the Terp’s went on a 12-4 run to take the lead at 43-40 with 7:31 remaining in the game.
The Hokies (6-2), then with 5:37 left in the game went on a 12-4 run of their own to take a 49-48 lead, which they would never lose as the Hokies, executed down the stretch offensively to seal the deal and to steal a win in College Park.
The Terp’s were led by Qudus Wahab (18 points and 7 rebounds), Donta Scott (11 points and 7 rebounds), and Hakim Hart (10 points and 2 rebounds). Maryland dominated them in the paint with a 38-20 advantage, as well as outrebounding the Hokies 39 – 33.
Virginia Tech was led by Keve Aluma (17 points and 12 rebounds), Justyn Mutts (16 points and 4 rebounds) and Hunter Cattoor (12 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals). The Hokies shot 45% (9-20) from the three-point line, as a team had 15 assists and had only 7 turnovers for the game.
So, what happened to the Terps against Virginia Tech?. Here are my takeaways from last night’s disappointing loss.