Up by two with 30 seconds to go, Maryland men’s basketball’s home crowd didn’t care about the team’s disappointing season. Xfinity Center was on its feet as the Terps had a chance to clinch their fourth conference win.
Washington had a good look with a chance to take the lead, but it rimmed out and the second-chance opportunity was blocked by Solomon Washington.
The freshman took the ball on the fast break, eventually finding a streaking Andre Mills for the game-clinching alley-oop to knock off Washington, 64-60.
Maryland head coach Buzz Williams didn’t shy away from showing his emotion on the sideline during Saturday’s game.
For the entire second half, the Terps’ first-year head coach was jumping around, screaming at his players and refs, and bending over with his hands on his knees.
“I think the message is different, but the aggression, the passion, it’s all like, kind of like the same,” Mills said about Buzz’s coaching style. “I messed up playing late in the game for possession, and he screamed at me, but I was like, [he’s] right.”
Eventually, all the energy he exerted was worth it. Maryland’s defense allowed just three field goals in the final 7:52 and made multiple key stops down the stretch. Mills added seven consecutive of his team-high 21 points in the final two minutes, including the lead-taking 3-pointer to clinch the win.
Williams said earlier this month that he would continue to try different lineup combinations.
He backed up that statement on Saturday.
The lineup of Andre Mills, George Turkson Jr., Isaiah Watts, Elijah Saunders and Guillermo Del Pino was successful in the first half. They made five consecutive field goals on offense and helped Maryland take the lead.
Darius Adams and Diggy Coit both played under 10 minutes, combining for just five points. Williams stuck with Andre Mills for all but one minute, and Del Pino set a season high with 27 minutes.
“I thought [Del Pino] was the MVP,” Williams said. “We’re not in such a position that we’re held hostage to any player, regardless of name. We’re held hostage to their ability to execute the game plan.”
It was the first time Del Pino scored and totaled 20 minutes since Nov. 26 against Alabama. He scored 6 points despite averaging just 1.2 points per game on the season.
Solomon Washington did the dirty work in the paint. The senior scored 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting and recorded 14 rebounds — six on offense — for the third consecutive game.
“It was really the pressure that Collin [Metcalf] put on the rim,” Washington said. “I was running free with a little guard on me. I knew I could get that rebound at my height.”
His ability to crash the glass prevented Washington freshman Hannes Steinbach from imposing his size. Forty-four scouts were in attendance Saturday to watch the 6-foot-11 German forward, but the Big Ten’s leader with 11.3 rebounds per game grabbed just three.
Steinbach scored 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting, but Maryland prevented him from taking over the game.
Guards Zoom Diallo, Desmond Claude and Wesley Yates III have added balance to the Huskies in the backcourt all season. With Claude out due to injury, Diallo and Yates stepped up.
Yates has been the best three-point shooter of the bunch at 35.7%, knocking down three 3-pointers for 12 points. Diallo led the Huskies in scoring with 19 points and exceeded his season’s assist average with five.
But Maryland’s bench minutes were the difference in the game. The reserves scored 15 points in 54 minutes and were ready to go despite their lack of time this season.
“I’m thankful for all of those guys in their heart and trying to have resilience through all that we’ve been through,” Williams said.
