Jahari Long put his head down and drove underneath the basket. Unable to find a shot, he threw a behind-the-back pass to Julian Reese, who was wide open in the paint. Reese dunked the ball for his tenth point of the night, electrifying the Maryland crowd.

The Terps hosted their second game at Xfinity Center against the West Carolina Catamounts Thursday night. With head coach Kevin Willard coaching just his second game in College Park, Maryland fans were eager to see if the team could keep the momentum rolling from their hot start against Niagara on Monday.

“I feel like previous coaches had confidence in me as well, but coach Willard being so vocal about it has brought comfortability in my game and has opened things up for my mindset,” Reese said in his post-game presser.

Jahmir Young ignited the Terps’ hot start with a basket from inside the paint. Two additional baskets from Julian Reese brought the Terps to a six-point lead until Western Carolina finally managed to put its first two points on the board.

In just the first six minutes of the game, Reese had already racked up eight points— one more than his total from Monday night against Niagara.

Western Carolina struggled to maintain possession of the ball in the first half. Maryland forced seven turnovers in the first ten minutes of the game, and on offense, they did not lose a single possession in that time.

Despite leading 32-15 at the half, Maryland didn’t have much to be proud of offensively. The Terps’ field goal percentage was a low 38.7%, and the team shot 0-8 from beyond the arc. Western Carolina had similar issues, shooting for 20% and only making two of its twelve three-point shots.

Young led the Terrapins at halftime with 11 points, but Julian Reese trailed close behind with 10. Young went on a five-point run until Hakim Hart scored four more points to close out the half. 

“We’re making progress every game,” Young said post-game. “During the games, we’re just to let every guy get touches and find their rhythm as the game goes on.”

After a quiet start, Donta Scott scored his first two points of the game just three minutes into the second period, and Rakim Hart gave Maryland its first three-pointer on the following possession.

“Dante was awesome in the huddles, saying let’s just keep doing what we’re doing,” Willard said. “It’s just gonna take him a little time to get used to all the stuff that my power forwards do.”

A two-pointer from Long brought Maryland’s lead to twenty points with just 11 minutes remaining in the game. Western Carolina struggled to stop the momentum with only six turnovers, zero blocks, and just two steals.

Three and a half minutes later, a dunk from Donta Scott brought the score to 61-31, slimming down any chances for Western Carolina to win. 

Noah Batchelor was subbed in for Maryland with just six minutes left in the game. He quickly knocked down a three-pointer, giving Maryland just its second three of the night. 

WCU went on a 14-1 run to end the game but ultimately fell short of the win.

“I got a group of guys that are doing exactly what I’m asking,” Willard said. “They’re playing hard and playing together. They have a great attitude.”

The final score was 71-51, Maryland.