Maryland turns up defensive intensity, rallies past Iowa

Field Level Media|published: Wed 14th February, 23:02 2024

Feb 14, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Tony Perkins (11) drive to the basket on Maryland Terrapins forward Mady Traore (14) during the fist half at Xfinity Center. credits: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Jahmir Young scored 15 of his 21 points after halftime as Maryland clamped down defensively down the stretch and rallied for a 78-66 victory over visiting Iowa on Wednesday night in College Park, Md.

The Terrapins (14-11, 6-8 Big Ten) lived up to their billing as the conference's top defensive team by outscoring Iowa 34-12 in the final 12-plus minutes.

Young was 4-of-12 shooting from the field but hit all 13 of his free throw attempts as the Terrapins shot 57.1 percent from the field overall and 48.1 percent in the final 20 minutes.

DeShawn Harris-Smith added 17 and Julian Reese contributed 16 and 13 rebounds as Maryland withstood injuries to Jordan Geronimo and Mady Traore. Donta Smith contributed 11 to help Maryland sweep the season series from Iowa for the first time.

Payton Sandfort led Iowa with 19 points but was 3-of-10 shooting in Iowa's 29-point second half. Ben Krikke added 11 but leading scorer Tony Perkins shot 3-of-13 and was held to nine points before fouling out in the final seconds. The Hawkeyes (14-11, 6-8) were unable to follow up their comeback win over Minnesota.

The Hawkeyes started fast, taking a 13-4 lead on Sandfort's trey with 12:27 remaining. After Maryland moved within 18-15 on a basket by Harris-Smith with 8:18 left, Iowa scored the next eight for a 26-15 lead on Pryce Sandfort's 3 with 5:15 left. The Hawkeyes took a 37-31 halftime lead on Patrick McCaffery's layup before the buzzer.

Owen Freeman's dunk gave Iowa a 54-44 lead with 12:09 remaining but Maryland countered with a 12-4 run to get within 58-56 on a reverse layup by Reese with 9:09 left. Maryland forged a 60-60 tie on Reese's layup with 7:38 to go and took its first lead since the opening minute on two free throws by Young with 6:57 left.

Maryland took a 65-60 lead on two free throws by Reese with 4:49 left and expanded it to 72-64 lead on a free throw by Harris-Smith with 68 seconds left. After Reese missed two free throws with 54 seconds left, Freeman blew an uncontested layup on the next trip and Maryland sank six free throws in the final 40 seconds.

—Field Level Media

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