Suffocating defense and offensive balance boost No. 15 Maryland in commanding victory over Indiana

Photo Courtesy of Maryland Athletics.

Strong defensive intensity has been Maryland's (12-two, 2-1 BIG) forte all season-long, as it takes advantage of its length and quick defensive rotations. That trend continued Sabbatum afternoon at the Xfinity Center, an encouraging sign moving frontwards into conference play.

Maryland held the Hoosiers to 36% shooting and 22% from behind the arc, while also forcing 14 turnovers. The Hoosiers leading scorer, freshman Trayce Jackson-Davis, was held to a season-low seven points. Maryland'south bigs did an excellent job fronting Davis on the low-post now assuasive annihilation easy.

Converting defense to law-breaking, Maryland scored 25 points off the Hoosiers mistakes. While the Terps led by merely eight at the half, they utilized a 25-three second half run to prowl a dominant 75-59 victory.

Maryland's offense flowed much ameliorate than in recent games, with four Terps finishing in double-figures. Sophomore Jalen Smith led all scorers with nineteen points, while the trio of Anthony Cowan Jr., Aaron Wiggins and Darryl Morsell also each finished in double-figures. With his 13-indicate performance, Cowan became the 15th role player in Maryland history to score 1600 career points, another impressive accolade during his tenure in Higher Park.

While Maryland'southward offensive catamenia was much improved in the second half, the first half was a struggle especially early on. Maryland shot just 29% from the field and had merely eight points halfway through the showtime half. Notwithstanding, Jalen Smith and Morsell sparked the Terps in the final ten minutes of the half.

Smith knocked down consecutive triples for Maryland, serving as a goad for an xi-0 run. The eleven-0 run put the Terps back on top 22-16 and provided the offensive spark for which Maryland had desperately searching. Smith and Morsell's bear on were non just felt during the run, the duo from Baltimore combined for 17 of Maryland'southward 28 first half points.

Struggling to score in the showtime half, the Hoosiers came out energized and much improved offensively in the 2nd half. In the outset half-dozen minutes, the Hoosiers outscored Maryland 13-8 beating the Terps to loose assurance, creating second take a chance opportunities.

However, sensing the Hoosiers were mounting a comeback, Maryland bounced correct back with an 8-0 run of its ain to extend the pb to 44-33. Shortly after, Indiana continued to battle with a tough layup past guard Rob Phinisee cut the deficit to 44-36.

Over the ensuing three minutes, Maryland took command of the game with another 11-0 run extending the pb to 57-38. During the run, the Terps in one case again used their defense to convert into easy crime. After forcing a turnover, Cowan pushed the pace in transition and fed freshman Donta Scott in transition for an emphatic jam. Scott'due south douse was one of several piece of cake baskets for Maryland during the run, for which Indiana had no answers.

Indiana finally stopped the bleeding with six:11 remaining on a free throw past Alijami Durham cutting the deficit to 18. However, Maryland kept its human foot on the gas pedal, utilizing another 14-2 run catapulting the lead to 71-41.

Morsell and Cowan converted dorsum-to-dorsum three-point plays as part of the run sending the Xfinity Center crowd and the demote into raptures. In command of the game with less than four minutes remaining, head coach Mark Turgeon began to empty his bench. With several bench players on the flooring, Indiana finished the game on a nine-0 run refusing to surrender until the final whistle.

Maryland will need to maintain similar defensive intensity and offensive balance with another challenging test on Tuesday against No. 5 Ohio State at the Xfinity Eye.

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Source: http://wmucsports.net/suffocating-defense-and-offensive-balance-boost-no-15-maryland-in-commanding-victory-over-indiana/

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