Maryland Basketball: Terps falter in second half at hands of Wisconsin

Melo Trimble is clearly playing at a very high level for the Maryland basketball team.

However, it wasn’t enough in the end as the Terrapins fell to Wisconsin 71-60 on Sunday afternoon. The loss dropped Maryland down to second place in the Big Ten behind Purdue and Wisconsin.

Trimble scored 27 points (9-of-17 shooting), grabbed five rebounds, and dished out three assists in the loss.

Maryland did get off to a solid start in the first half. Kevin Huerter and Justin Jackson each hit a three in the early going to give the Terps an 8-6 lead.

A major storyline throughout the first half was defense. Maryland coughed up the basketball six times in the first seven minutes.

After Wisconsin’s Brevin Pritzl completed a three-point play with 2:36 left in the half, Maryland was able to end the first 20 minutes on a positive note.

Trimble connected on a pair of three-pointers in the final 1:13 of the half to give the Terps a 33-27 lead at the break.

Maryland really dug themselves into a deep hole as the second half began. Wisconsin started off the half on a 15-3 run.

The Terps missed seven of their first eight shots.

With 10:22 left in the game, Michal Cekovsky converted a slam dunk to cut the Badger lead to 47-44. However, that was as close as the Terps would get down the stretch.

The deficit stayed in the eight to 12-point range throughout the rest of the contest. Trimble did do his best to keep the Terps in the game, but he shot just 5-of-10 from the free throw line.

One of the biggest issues for the Terps was their inability to rebound.

Wisconsin grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and Maryland was only able to secure five. Ethan Happ and Nigel Hayes really made life difficult inside as the duo combined for 41 points.

Next: Big sixth inning dooms Terps

Maryland will have a chance to put this performance behind them on Wednesday. The Terps host Minnesota in a rematch from a game that Maryland won last month on the road.