Maryland Basketball: Terps Upset by St. Bonaventure in Emerald Coast Classic Semifinal
Maryland committed 20 turnovers and shot just 21% (5-for-23) from three-point range en route to their first loss of the season.
St. Bonaventure outplayed, outhustled, and outworked Maryland for seemingly the entire Emerald Coast Classic’s second semifinal game.
Maryland clung to a one-point halftime lead, 31-30, despite making just one three-point attempt, committing double-digit turnovers, getting outworked to every 50-50 ball, and having zero answers for how to attack the 1-3-1 zone the Bonnies were utilizing on defense.
Twice in the second half, the Terps extended their lead to at least seven points.
Graduate transfer Sean Obi was a spark off the bench for Maryland in the second half and converted a three-point play the old-fashioned way.
Anthony Cowan and Kevin Huerter each hit a three-pointer as part of a 9-0 Maryland run that saw the Terps take a 47-40 lead with 10:22 remaining.
The Terps once again extended their lead, but this time to eight points. After Cowan hit another three-pointer, the Terps led 52-44 with 8:19 remaining.
Credit to the Bonnies who did not go away and kept chipping away at the Terps lead.
Maryland led 59-55 with 2:29 left to play after Bruno Fernando made a layup. That would end up being the last field goal the Terps made on the night.
St. Bonaventure nursed a two point lead, 61-59, with under a minute left after a pair of free throws.
Maryland tied the game courtesy of Anthony Cowan who calmly stepped up to the line and sunk two free-throws to tie the game back at 61 all.
After poor pick-and-roll defense by the Terps, Courtney Stockard sunk a contested layup driving to the hoop which proved to be the game-winner.
In a game which saw the Terps commit 20 turnovers, it was ironic Maryland’s final hope to tie or win the game with a buzzer beater saw Anthony Cowan fall down at halfcourt and the ball roll out of bounds. This would have been another turnover had the buzzer not sounded prior to the ball rolling out of bounds which saved the Terps from recording their 21st on the night.
Maryland has struggled all season with turning the ball over. They average as a team 16 turnovers a game. This is arguably the biggest concern for a team as talented and deep as the Terps are this year. Turnovers make it tough on any team to overcome and be able to win because each time a turnover occurs it is a missed opportunity to get a shot up or put any points on the scoreboard. The Terps average rougly one turnover per every four possessions. This stat needs to change immediately for the Terps to be dancing come March.
Another area of concern for the Terps has to be the coaching of Mark Turgeon. Maryland did not execute down the stretch and had no answers on offense for the Bonnies 1-3-1 zone. Too many possessions saw the Terps all standing around the perimeter passing the ball around the arc as opposed to working the ball inside then kicking it out or driving to the hoop.
The one positive for Maryland in the second was the spark Obi gave the team off the bench. Each time Obi has played this season, he has produced and made his presence felt.
To put that statement in perspective Obi has snagged the same amount of rebounds (10) so far this season as Michal Cekovsky has in two less games played and in 46 less minutes of game action. I would question Turgeon as to why Obi does not get more opportunities to see the floor.
The Terps will battle the New Mexico Lobos in the third-place game at the Emerald Coast Classic Saturday afternoon at 3pm.