By Emily Olsen

Maryland senior Jon Graham was all smiles Wednesday night when he sat down to talk with the media after Maryland’s win over Penn State 64-58. Graham contributed 16 points and six rebounds against his former Nittany Lion teammates.

“I knew going into this game he was going to have a career high. I knew it.” Penn State Coach Pat Chambers said. “I’m happy for Jon.”

In 2013 Graham announced his transfer from Penn State to father Ernie Graham’s Alma Mater, the University of Maryland.

“He seemed calm and he seemed like Jon, but I’m sure he didn’t sleep much last night,” Coach Mark Turgeon said.

But Graham disagreed and said he was well rested as he prepared to face his old team.

“First good night sleep I have probably had in a week and a half,” Graham said. “As far as pregame nothing changed. I sang ‘Latch’ two times like I always do. Maybe I sang it a little bit louder. ”

The rest and repetition paid off. Graham had a career-high performance Wednesday night for #17 Maryland. At the start of the season Maryland relied heavily on its strong freshman class, but against Penn State it was the Terps’ veterans who carried the team. Graham and fellow senior Dez Wells combined for 39 points.

Standout freshman Melo Trimble had a quiet scoring game, but recorded a total of eight assists to help generate 17 points, including one to Wells for a slam dunk that sent the Xfinity crowd of 14,195 into an energized frenzy.

“At the start of the second half we did a lot to get Melo the ball. It was to score but every time Melo goes somewhere there are two guys,” said Coach Turgeon. “He made the right decisions.”

The Terps struggled in the first half and led by only one going into halftime, but Graham and Wells roared alive in the second half. Graham scored seven points in the first three minutes of the half.

“Coach always wants us to play with confidence, play loose. Play like how it used to be in the park. Just playing free,” Graham said. “You can’t play this game all nervous and shaky. You play the best when you are free.”

Penn State kept it a tight game. D.J. Newbill scored 18 points for the Nittany Lions and with less than two minutes to play assisted both of junior Brandon Taylor’s three-point jumpers that cut the Terps’ lead to one.

“He was obviously our main focus,” forward Jake Layman said about Newbill. “He took 19 shots, which was what we wanted him to do.”

The Terps made five crucial free throws to seal their victory. Both teams spent time at the free throw line. Maryland shot 62.5% from the line and went 15-24. Penn State shot 61.5% from the line and made 8-13 shots.

Although Coach Turgeon once again expressed concern that Maryland (19-4, 7-3 Big Ten) is playing nervous due to ranking and standings, senior leader Dez Wells assured that the Terps are headed in the right direction.

“We all feel great mentally. We all feel refreshed mentally and physically,” Wells said. “Our best basketball is ahead of us.”

The Terps’ next game is Sunday at 3:15 p.m. at Iowa.