Maryland Basketball: Maryland falls short against Penn State

The Maryland basketball team hadn’t turned in many bleak offensive performances this season.

However, the Terrapins struggled against a stifling Penn State defense in a 70-64 defeat on Tuesday evening. It was Maryland’s first road loss of the season.

Forward Justin Jackson led the Terps with 14 points (4-of-11 shooting) and nine rebounds. Maryland had only three players finish in double figures with no player in the single digits scoring more than six points.

Maryland certainly didn’t come out of the gate playing their best basketball.

The Terps made just one of their first six shots and trailed 6-3. With 13:10 remaining in the first half, Maryland was able to tie the game at 10 courtesy of a three from Melo Trimble.

Trimble led the way in the opening half as he scored 10 points.

The big story in the opening 20 minutes was the turnover battle. Maryland committed nine turnovers while they forced just three.

Maryland’s defense did tighten up towards the end of the half. Penn State didn’t register a field goal during the final 3:46 of the frame.

The Nittany Lions held a 35-29 lead at the half.

Maryland didn’t fare much better to begin the second half.

The Terps were outscored 9-2 in the first five minutes of the second stanza. They also missed five shots and committed a pair of turnovers during that stretch.

Forward Lamar Stevens really asserted himself on both ends of the floor. The Philadelphia native scored seven of his xx points during the first five minutes of the half.

Maryland didn’t register a made field goal in the second half until forward L.G. Gill connected on a jumper with 13:24 left in the game. Just under two minutes later, Kevin Huerter drilled a shot from beyond the arc to cut the deficit to 46-38.

The Nittany Lions were able to increase their lead to double-digits several times. However, the Terps always seemed to be able to battle back to get the game around the six to eight-point margin.

With 5:19 left in the game, Huerter had another successful conversion from beyond the arc. Huerter’s three cut the Penn State lead to 59-51.

Huerter may have been Maryland’s most productive player on the evening. He ended up with 12 points, including making three of his shots from long-range.

After a slam dunk from Julian Moore, Jackson answered with a three that cut the deficit to 62-55 with 4:14 to go.

Just under a minute later, Jaylen Brantley connected from beyond the arc after a loose ball came his way. It was Brantley’s only successful field goal attempt on the night.

However, four points was as close as Maryland would get. Penn State would finish the game by making their free throws over the final minute.

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The loss gives Maryland their first losing streak of the season. The Terps return home to face Ohio State on Saturday for a 4:00 p.m. tip.