The Terps had nine seconds to go the length of the court in hopes of tying the game. Freshman DeShawn Harris-Smith in-bounded the ball to Jahmir Young on the right side of the court. Young was double-teamed and feeling the pressure of the Blazers’ full court press, he passed to Harris-Smith. 

The freshman guard took it the length of the court, settling on the left side beyond the arch. Harris-Smith shot, but UAB forward Yaxel Lendeborg got a hand on it, assuring it wouldn’t go in as the clock hit zero. 

Maryland men’s basketball lost to UAB, 66-63, in the third place game in the Asheville Championship Tournament in North Carolina. 

The Blazers scored 42 points in the second half after being held to 26 in the first. UAB guards Eric Gaines and Alejandro Vasquez combined to score 24 in the second half to lead the way for the Blazers. 

Maryland held a six-point lead coming out of halftime, but UAB scored six straight points to tie the game at 30. The Blazers eventually took the lead on a layup by Lendeborg and never relinquished it, going on an 11-0 run that made the lead ten.

The Terps climbed their way back behind the strong play of Harris-Smith who scored all 13 of his points in the second half. Maryland made it a one possession game with 31 seconds to go, but couldn’t come up with the game winning basket.  

The Terps and Blazers matched up in the early window after both teams lost their first games of the tournament. 

The game started as a back and forth affair with both teams finding ways to match each other. The Terps held a one point lead through the first four minutes of play, until UAB took the lead with 15:24 remaining. 

The back and forth continued until the 12:43 mark in the first half when Young tied the game at 12, sparking a 11-0 Maryland run. Five different Terps contributed to the scoring, but it was the defense that shined during the run. 

Maryland forced three turnovers and held the Blazers scoreless until the 7:51 mark in the first half, giving them a seven point lead. 

The Maryland lead grew to a highpoint of 11 before turnover issues by the Maryland offense allowed UAB to cut into the lead, making the score, 30-24, going into halftime. 

The Terps turned the ball over nine times in the first half resulting in 12 points for the Blazers. Maryland only scored four points off the Blazers’ eight turnovers. Donta Scott was the Terps leading scorer heading into the break with seven points. 

Maryland turnovers continued to be a problem in the second half. The Terps finished with 15 turnovers that turned into 22 UAB points. Young led the Terps in points with 14, just one above Harris-Smith and Scott who both had 13. Maryland continued to struggle from 3-point range shooting, 6-23, from behind the line. 

Maryland will go back on the road for a game against No. 22 Villanova on Friday.