No. 20 Maryland men’s basketball sputters to win, narrowly defeats Hofstra, 69-67

(Photo Courtesy of Maryland Athletics.)

Later on 5 games, the need for a more commonage offense is abundantly clear.

Individually, however, several of the Terps all-time athletes were willing to provide the necessary offensive spark. And in crunch time, guard Eric Ayala was willing to produce on both ends. With less than 30 seconds left in regulation and the Terps in demand of a game tying bucket, Ayala put his ugly shooting night behind him and knifed through Hofstra'south defense to fifty-fifty the game's score at 67.

After converting the game's last field goal, Ayala completed his two-way sequence with a deflection to keep the contest tied. The scramble for the loose ball led to a foul that put Ian Martinez to the line to water ice the game, 69-67.

"I was shooting gratuitous throws [at the shootaround] thinking, you know, mayhap today, I'll be in that situation," Martinez said. "Then I take to remember similar I'1000 the only one in the gym correct now. And [that] worked for me."

The clutch quaternary quarter play edged the Terps past Hofstra for Maryland's quaternary win of the season.

"We didn't panic." Head charabanc Mark Turgeon said, "I thought nosotros got a little sped upward Wednesday and we didn't panic this evening and nosotros're work in progress. But that'southward a good team [we beat]."

The Terps started the competition playing a unproblematic brand of basketball. The tried and truthful method of feeding the post granted Maryland ten easy pigment points at the under-12 timeout. But without a consequent outside shot, Maryland's lack of versatility was resonant when the Pride began denying paint touches.

Maryland's total 16 points were bested by Hofstra's 20 at the first half's midpoint, and the Pride shot a strong 4-9 from behind the arc as Maryland made just one of its 4 attempts.

Hakim Hart entered to showcase his newly improved jumper and hit his showtime ii three-point shots of his junior season. He opened his first 4 games as a starting defensive wing, but shined in those few moments of game five as Maryland'due south much needed sharpshooter.

In spite of his energizing play, Maryland finished with a frigid 5-22 mark from 3, continuing this flavour'south trend of questionable three-point offense. Continuing the theme of unsustainable offense, the Terps also finished with xv assists to their 16 turnovers.

Hart helped Maryland bound to a 24-20 lead with his vi points, merely after an 11-three run, another crowd pleasing individual effort was needed.

Enter Martinez, who after showing spurts of his power on numerous separate occasions, put it all together in one xc second series. The Utah transfer scored seven of Maryland's final nine points of the half. Martinez' midrange jumper, three and fastbreak slam later on a blocked jumpshot offered the Terps considerable momentum and a 34-31 pb at the break.

"[Information technology comes from] simply getting stops from defense force and and so merely running," Martinez said, "Having the fans helped a lot. Everybody gets into that energy [and] gets focused on defense."

The three bespeak lead, of course, was far from what was needed to put away a determined Hofstra team, and after the Pride continued to draw close throughout the second half and splash a three for their first pb of the period, the Terps needed another single-man show.

Fatts Russell rose to the challenge and attacked the rim with verve and scored Maryland'due south next 7.

To ascent back to a two indicate lead with less than a infinitesimal left, Hofstra used a pair of tough threes to curb the attack and Ayala stepped in to play closer. Martinez followed with his points at the charity stripe and Maryland escaped with a win in dramatic way.

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Source: http://wmucsports.net/no-20-maryland-mens-basketball-narrowly-escapes-hofstra/

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