Tyson Walker fuels Michigan State past Maryland

Field Level Media|published: Sun 21st January, 14:35 2024

Jan 21, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins guard DeShawn Harris-Smith (5) reaches for a loose ball during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans at Xfinity Center. credits: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Tyson Walker scored 15 points and buried a crucial 3-pointer as Michigan State recovered after blowing a 12-point halftime lead to fend off Maryland 61-59 on Sunday afternoon in College Park, Md.

AJ Hoggard, Malik Hall and Tre Holloman each added 12 points for the Spartans (12-7, 4-4 Big Ten) in their third-straight win and their first road victory this season. Walker led Michigan State with five steals, but it was Holloman who poked the ball away from the Terrapins' Jahmir Young in the final seconds to preserve the win.

Young led Maryland (11-8, 3-5) with 19 points, Donta Scott chipped in 16 and Julian Reese added 10 to go along with a game-high 12 rebounds.

Michigan State clung to a one-point lead before Walker swished a stepback trey from the left wing to push the Spartans ahead 61-57 with 44 seconds left.

Young appeared to hit a three on the Terrapins' ensuing possession, but replay review showed his foot was on the line, leaving Maryland behind by two with 36 seconds to play.

The Terrapins had a chance to tie or win after getting a stop but did not get off a shot after Holloman met Young at the wing and knocked the ball away.

Maryland committed 18 turnovers, which the Spartans flipped into 19 points.

After committing nine giveaways and being handily outshot in the opening half, Maryland sharpened its offense and clamped down on defense to erase its 12-point halftime deficit.

Young and Scott each drilled a 3-pointer before the latter's driving layup capped the Terrapins' 16-4 run that tied the game at 48 with 12:16 to play.

Maryland had smothered the Spartans into 10 straight misses when Young's second trey of the half nudged the Terrapins ahead 53-50 at the 8:26 mark.

Hoggard swung Michigan State in front 54-53 and later added a teardrop floater after Young's sixth turnover to boost the Spartans ahead 58-55 with 1:38 left.

Both teams finished 21-of-50 from the field.

The Spartans engineered a 17-1 run midway through the first half and outshot Maryland 58.3 percent to 37 percent to lead 44-32 at the break.

Holloman led all first-half scorers with 12 points.

—Field Level Media

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