Noah Batchelor found himself on the opposite boundary line with 0.6 seconds left on the clock while his team trailed by three. After the whistle, he sent a deep pass to half court, but the shot fell short of the basket as the final buzzer sounded to mark the Terps’ first loss of the season.
After starting off the 2023-24 season with a 68-53 win over Mount St. Mary’s, the 1-0 Maryland Terrapins traveled to the Asheville Championship Tournament in North Carolina held Nov. 10-12.
Maryland entered the tournament seeking its 34th regular-season tournament title in program history, starting with a first round matchup against Davidson on Friday night. The Terps fell short, 64-61, sending the Wildcats to the championship game to play the winner of Clemson versus UAB.
Maryland’s starting lineup included guards Jahmir Young and DeShawn Harris-Smith alongside forwards Donta Scott, Jordan Geronimo and Julian Reese, but Jahari Long subbed in for Scott after just two minutes of play.
The Terps kept a steady two-point lead over the Wildcats as the first few minutes progressed but struggled hitting their three-point shots to distance themselves any further. Missing four-straight attempts beyond the arc, Davidson eventually came back with a 10-0 run to take its first lead.
Davidson freshman Bobby Durkin played a crucial role in keeping his team on top, leading the Wildcats team with eight points in the first ten minutes.
But Maryland responded with its own scoring run. Jahmir Young broke Maryland’s three-point drought with just over five minutes left in the half to give the Terps back control.
Despite what would become a 10-point effort from Young, Davidson refused to let up and went into the half ahead 33-22.
Behind Young for points in the first half were DeShawn Harris-Smith (6), Julian Reese (6) and Jahari Long (5). The Terps entered the second period making just three of their fifteen three-point attempts.
Davidson’s lead advanced to nine points in the first five minutes as the Wildcats managed to draw themselves open underneath the net. Offensively, Maryland failed to keep control of the ball, letting up three straight turnovers before managing to score its first basket of the period.
Both teams hit scoring droughts as the game moved into its final ten minutes, suffering constant turnovers on short possessions. Julian Reese broke the drought for Maryland just before Connor Kochera broke it for Davidson on the next possession.
Davidson maintained an eight-point lead until the final three minutes of the game when Jahmir Young made a three-point shot followed up by a pair of free throws from Donta Scott.
The scoring spurt left Maryland trailing by a single point with just one minute left. Jahmir Young was fouled on a made layup, and a free throw shot tied the game at 61-61.
On Davidson’s next possession, Bobby Durkin was left wide open in the corner, draining a three-point shot to give the Wildcats the lead with 13 seconds left. A jump ball gave Maryland the ball, but a deflection off of Durkin sent the ball rolling to the end of the court.
With no time left to score again, Maryland was eliminated from the tournament. Davidson’s lead lasted for 33 minutes of the game, while Maryland’s lasted for just over five.
Maryland’s final scoring leaders were Jahmir Young (18 points), Julian Reese (16 points, 11 rebounds) and DeShawn Harris-Smith (8 points). Maryland finished shooting for 35%.
