In its last non-conference game, Maryland basketball struggled to dispatch a pesky UMBC team for 30 minutes, but used a breakout game by Donald Carey and a flurry of free throws for an 80-64 win.
Carey comes out, but the three don’t fall …Carey was a great 3-point shooter the past two seasons at Georgetown, but has struggled with his shooting so far as a Terp, especially at home, where he was 4-for-33 since joining game. Confidence is a fun thing, though, and Carey looked like he was injected with it before the game. The senior long distance transfer shot 6 of 9, including 5 of 7 on three for a team-high 19 points, his highest total as a Terp.
“As far as my behavior, I’ve been consistent with that. I know the type of player I am and I know the type of work I do, so ultimately you know the work will show,” Carey said. afterwards.
If Maryland (10-3 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) can consistently get this version of Carey the rest of the way, that would be a huge boost given the team’s perimeter shooting struggles. They shot 6 of 24 from three, a tally that was amplified by a few late marks after the game spiraled out of control. They used to be 1 of 15, a familiar site after several recent and ugly filming performances. Do Scott had a good night overall (11 points, nine rebounds, two steals), but went 0 for 5 of three and is 6 for its last 32.
Jahmir young was 0 for 3 in three and 3 for his last 16. Maryland’s poor 3-point shot looks less like a crisis than a weakness coming into the Big Ten game. Still, Young played well, getting into the lane at will en route to 18 points and seven rebounds. Young became the 12th active NCAA player this year to reach 1,300 career points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists.
hakim hartwho has slumped lately, has regained his effectiveness, scoring 16 points on eight shots.
Reese and free throws… Julian Reese He played 23 minutes in his return from a shoulder injury, attempting and missing just two field goals. He caused problems for the smaller Terriers in the paint, reaching the line 12 times and making seven. Reese, who shot 80 percent from the line as a freshman, has struggled this season. Overall, however, Maryland enjoyed a huge disparity on the line, doubling UMBC’s 16 attempts.
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They made 22 of those 32, a 68.8% clip that Kevin Willard won’t like, but they exploited those opportunities while pulling away midway through the second half, in which they piled up 14 free throws from 20 attempts. Rebound remains another concern; UMBC (9-5), which entered a six-game winning streak, notched 12 offensive rebounds to Maryland’s seven and finished with 36 rebounds to Maryland’s 38.
How did that happen … Nearly 26 minutes had passed and the Terps were 1 for 15 from three and clung to a four-point lead over the 16-point underdog Terriers. The ball found Ian Martinez wide open on the wing, but he deployed a brick that barely touched the rear panel. Scott grabbed the rebound, however, and Reese worked his way inside with a strong movement to earn a few free throws, doing both. But UMBC responded with a bucket, then Young tossed the ball, which led to a few free throws to make it a two-point game.
Reese hit a free throw, Maryland got a save, and Young found a Carey three wide open.
Moments later, Hart knocked down a three to end a drought, then rushed over the break and tried to throw an alley-oop from Hart which would have had the building buzzing – it was a crowd impressive for a smaller name opponent considering the students are on a break – but the ball went back and forth, bouncing through the air and blaring on the shot clock. After a few more ragged possessions, Hart hit a few free throws, Maryland’s run was 11-2 and it was a 55-44 game. They had done much of that damage down the line, scoring 12 points in 12 minutes.
A few minutes later, UMBC went to an area to try and stop Maryland from getting into the paint and shooting more free throws, but they patiently whipped the ball around until they found Carey, who dumped a corner three. With Maryland in eight, Hart drove into the paint, drew in the defense and found Carey smartly cutting through the baseline for an open layup. They had another easy one the next time Young dribbled into the paint for a float shot.
As the clock ticked down to less than three minutes, they fed the ball to Reese. He was double-teamed, quickly recognized it and whipped a cross pass to a wide-open Carey, who delivered the killing blow, a three-pointer to make it 71-56. Then Carey drained three more, Hart laid down a no-look pass to Scott for an emphatic dunk and it was on for the Big Ten game.
Maryland then travels to Michigan for a New Year’s game. The Terps have had two weeks and a few easy games to recover from that tough three-game slide, so they should be re-energized in Ann Arbor.
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