Dribbling in transition with nine minutes left to play, Jahari Long hurled the basketball to a wide open Julian Reese underneath the net. Reese effortlessly made the uncontested layup— leaving Maryland within reach of a victory for the first time since the game’s second minute.
The Maryland Terrapins (13-11, 5-8 Big Ten) returned home to Xfinity Center in College Park on Wednesday night to host the Iowa Hawkeyes (14-10, 6-7 Big Ten).
Maryland entered the game looking to snap a three-game losing streak delivered by Michigan State, Rutgers and most recently Ohio State, which beat the Terps in double overtime, 79-75. As for Iowa, the Hawkeyes came in ready to extend their win streak to two after beating Minnesota 90-85 on Sunday.
Maryland would finally add another mark to its “W” column, defeating Iowa 78-66.
“This was a huge win,” Maryland head coach Kevin Willard said in his post-game presser. “I’ve seen a lot of teams that have been through this [situation] that kind of just don’t come out with a fight, and these guys showed great hearts.”
Maryland’s starters included guards Jahmir Young and Jahari Long with forwards Julian Reese, Donta Scott and Mady Traore (his second consecutive start). Iowa kicked things off with guards Josh Dix, Tony Perkins and Payton Sandfort alongside forwards Owen Freeman and Ben Krikke.
Iowa started the game by capitalizing off of three straight Maryland turnovers to create an 8-0 run and move ahead by multiple possessions. Maryland eventually flipped the momentum as the clock passed the 10-minute mark, crawling back within three points primarily from the efforts of DeShawn Harris-Smith who drained a three-pointer and pair of layups.
“Today I was just out there trying to smile and keep my teammates smiling, and when we do that, we have good energy— good things happen,” Harris-Smith said post-game.
Iowa’s Payton Sandfort proved to be the difference-maker for his team in the first half, accounting for 11 points while making all three of his three-point shots by the time there were five minutes left.
With under three minutes to play, the Terps put together a 7-0 run with baskets from Reese, Scott and Young to fall five points short of the lead by the time Iowa found another basket.
The Hawkeyes still managed to enter halftime on top at a 37-31 score.
After not playing against Ohio State and only for seven minutes of the first half, Maryland forward Jordan Geronimo did not see the court in the second half after suffering a lower leg injury in the first. He finished the game with just two points.
And further adding to Maryland’s misfortune, Mady Traore suffered a leg injury three minutes into the second half which kept him benched for the remainder of the game. Having to be helped off the court while putting no pressure on his left leg, Traore finished with two points as well.
With a depleted roster and 16 minutes left to play, the Terps were once again within six points to tie. The bulk of the remaining time would belong to Harris-Smith, Jamie Kaiser Jr., Reese, Scott and Young.
“I’m gonna have to slide Jamie [Kaiser] over to power forward a little bit, we’ll make it work,” Willard said post-game. “Donta [Scott] will go back to being a power forward, which he can. He’s actually more comfortable and plays better at that spot, anyway.”
Following Traore’s departure, Maryland struggled making a basket for over four minutes which allowed Iowa to get ahead by 10 points and prompted a timeout from Willard. Maryland was left with just a single timeout while 12 minutes remained which made a one-score game seem virtually unwinnable.
Then out of nowhere, in a matter of three minutes, Maryland cut a 10-point deficit down to four. Immediately after, Julian Reese made a layup to leave Maryland two points short. A minute after that, he made another to tie the game at 60-60.
“I feel like today I was taking care of the ball while handling the double team as well,” Reese said post-game. “I was just able to keep my confidence.”
A pair of free throws from Young combined with a jumper from Scott quickly put Maryland ahead by four points with six minutes left. The lead marked Maryland’s first since the second minute of the opening half.
The Hawkeyes resorted to fouling in the final minute but the effort was unsuccessful given their sudden inability to find the net. Maryland found its first win in four games.
Maryland’s point-leaders included Young (21 points), Harris-Smith (17 points) and Reese (16 points). Iowa’s included Payton Sandfort (19 points), Krikke (11 points) and Perkins (nine points). Jahmir Young also surpassed 500 points on the season.
Now 14-11, Maryland moves on to host No. 14 Illinois in College Park on Saturday.
