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No. 7 Maryland can’t match No. 11 Michigan State’s muscle, 74-65 No. 7 Maryland can’t match No. 11 Michigan State’s muscle, 74-65
(35 minutes later)
EAST LANSING, Mich. — The final gut punch arrived with less than a minute remaining at the Breslin Center on Saturday night when Maryland Coach Mark Turgeon watched his team get outmuscled by Michigan State’s Matt Costello one last time. The Terrapins arrived here looking to make a statement with a road win against a perennial national power. After a 74-65 loss, they left knowing they didn’t play with the same kind of desperate intensity the Spartans summoned. EAST LANSING, Mich. — The final gut punch arrived with less than a minute remaining at the Breslin Center on Saturday night when Maryland Coach Mark Turgeon watched his team get outmuscled by Michigan State’s Matt Costello one last time. The Terrapins arrived here looking to make a statement with a road win against a perennial national power. After a 74-65 loss, they left knowing they didn’t play with the same kind of desperation the Spartans summoned.
In the game’s final moments, Turgeon rubbed his hand across his face and turned around to his bench and just stared at his players. There was nothing left to say. No. 11 Michigan State, with three trips to the Final Four in the past seven seasons, showed No. 7 Maryland exactly what it must do if the Terrapins hope to achieve their ultimate goal over the next two months.In the game’s final moments, Turgeon rubbed his hand across his face and turned around to his bench and just stared at his players. There was nothing left to say. No. 11 Michigan State, with three trips to the Final Four in the past seven seasons, showed No. 7 Maryland exactly what it must do if the Terrapins hope to achieve their ultimate goal over the next two months.
They need to become tougher. That was the primary message delivered by Costello and the rest of the Spartans, who won the rebounding battle 46-36 and grabbed 17 offensive boards. On a night when Melo Trimble was sensational and finished with 24 points, Maryland simply couldn’t match the number of second- and third-chance opportunities of the Spartans. They need to become tougher. That was the primary message delivered by Costello and the rest of the Spartans, who won the rebounding battle 46-36 and grabbed 17 offensive boards. On a night when Melo Trimble carried the offensive load and finished with 24 points, Maryland simply couldn’t match the amount of second- and third-chance opportunities of the Spartans.
Robert Carter Jr. added 13 for Maryland, which shot 38.6 percent from the field and went 8 of 27 from beyond the arc. “We just have to be tougher. We have to be tougher on the glass,” said Maryland forward Robert Carter Jr., who had 13 points and five rebounds.
[At Maryland, Rasheed Sulaimon hears ugly echoes of his past at Duke]
With Maryland trailing by three and in need of a stop with less than a minute remaining, Carter watched in despair as Costello beat the Terrapins to his sixth offensive rebound of the night to effectively seal the win.
“I thought that’s the hardest we’ve played in years,” Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo said.
Maryland (17-3, 6-2 Big Ten) was fortunate to be down just six to end the first half, considering its poor shooting (36.7 percent) and its continued rebounding issues. Michigan State (17-4, 4-4) had its way on the glass to start with 11 offensive rebounds in the first half alone, and it led by as many as nine in the first 20 minutes.Maryland (17-3, 6-2 Big Ten) was fortunate to be down just six to end the first half, considering its poor shooting (36.7 percent) and its continued rebounding issues. Michigan State (17-4, 4-4) had its way on the glass to start with 11 offensive rebounds in the first half alone, and it led by as many as nine in the first 20 minutes.
The Terrapins also struggled with their transition defense, at times negating their offensive production in the process. A prime example came after Trimble knifed his way into the lane and finished an up-and-under layup at the 4-minute 8-second mark of the first half. It looked as if the rest of the Maryland players doted on the finish, because five seconds later Costello found himself all alone in transition and caught a pass for a wide open dunk to make it 27-19. The Terrapins also struggled with their transition defense, at times negating their offensive production in the process. A prime example came after Trimble knifed his way into the lane and finished an up-and-under layup at the 4-minute 8-second mark of the first half. It looked as if the rest of the Maryland players doted on the finish, because five seconds later Costello found himself all alone in transition and caught a pass for a wide open dunk to make it 27-19. Michigan State finished with 18 fast-break points.
While guards Denzel Valentine and Bryn Forbes combined for 44 points, it was Costello who gave Maryland the most trouble. He outmuscled and outhustled Maryland’s front court all night, creating extra opportunities for a Spartans team that had looked lost in three consecutive losses entering Saturday. Costello finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds. “I think we kind of got gassed a little bit,” Trimble said. “Let them off the hook by not running down.”
[Bracketology: Patrick Stevens’s latest look at the NCAA tournament bracket]
While guards Denzel Valentine and Bryn Forbes combined for 44 points, it was Costello who gave Maryland the most fits. He outmuscled and outhustled Maryland’s front court all night, creating extra opportunities for a Spartans team that had looked lost in three consecutive losses entering Saturday. Costello finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
“Our two keys were . . . rebounding and transition,” Turgeon said. “We didn’t do very well in either one of them. They had 33 points off transition and second-chance points. That’s really the game.”
These two teams developed a habit of playing hotly contested games after three meetings last season, and the budding rivalry added another chippy chapter Saturday. The game intensified in the early moments of the second half, when Maryland pieced together a 7-0 run after back-to-back baskets from Carter to take a 46-42 lead. Both Costello and Maryland freshman center Diamond Stone were hit with technical fouls shortly following that burst, and both players had to be separated near half court after a timeout was called.These two teams developed a habit of playing hotly contested games after three meetings last season, and the budding rivalry added another chippy chapter Saturday. The game intensified in the early moments of the second half, when Maryland pieced together a 7-0 run after back-to-back baskets from Carter to take a 46-42 lead. Both Costello and Maryland freshman center Diamond Stone were hit with technical fouls shortly following that burst, and both players had to be separated near half court after a timeout was called.
Trimble tied the game at 53 after slicing into the lane for an easy finish with just over 10 minutes remaining, but Michigan State responded with a 9-0 run that featured a three-point play from Valentine and a tough putback from Costello. After turning his ankle in a loss against Nebraska earlier this week, there were questions about the Michigan State center’s health entering this game, but he emphatically answered them when he met Maryland senior forward Jake Layman at the rim and stuffed his dunk attempt, sending the Breslin Center into an uproar.Trimble tied the game at 53 after slicing into the lane for an easy finish with just over 10 minutes remaining, but Michigan State responded with a 9-0 run that featured a three-point play from Valentine and a tough putback from Costello. After turning his ankle in a loss against Nebraska earlier this week, there were questions about the Michigan State center’s health entering this game, but he emphatically answered them when he met Maryland senior forward Jake Layman at the rim and stuffed his dunk attempt, sending the Breslin Center into an uproar.
But Trimble, who had first tasted glory in this arena after helping lead Maryland to a double-overtime win a season ago, simply wouldn’t let Maryland fold. He weaved his way around the perimeter in pick-and-roll situations down the stretch to drive Michigan State’s defense nuts, and he hit a three-pointer with 5:02 remaining to cut Michigan State’s lead to 62-59.But Trimble, who had first tasted glory in this arena after helping lead Maryland to a double-overtime win a season ago, simply wouldn’t let Maryland fold. He weaved his way around the perimeter in pick-and-roll situations down the stretch to drive Michigan State’s defense nuts, and he hit a three-pointer with 5:02 remaining to cut Michigan State’s lead to 62-59.
Trimble pounded his chest after the play, but Michigan State had plenty of heart, too. The Spartans continued to pound the lane in the final minutes as Costello made four consecutive free throws to extend the lead back to seven.Trimble pounded his chest after the play, but Michigan State had plenty of heart, too. The Spartans continued to pound the lane in the final minutes as Costello made four consecutive free throws to extend the lead back to seven.
Layman cut the lead to 66-63 with 1:26 left, but that would be as close as the Terps would get. After the teams traded free throws, Costello delivered the final sequence. First, he grabbed an offensive board to set up two more free throws by Forbes to extend the lead back to 70-65 with 22 seconds left. A few seconds later, as Maryland tried to make one final offensive play, Costello came from the weak side to block a layup attempt from Maryland’s Rasheed Sulaimon, effectively sealing the Spartans’ win. Layman cut the lead to 66-63 with 1:26 left, but that would be as close as the Terps would get. After the teams traded free throws, Costello delivered the final sequence. First, he grabbed an offensive board to set up two more free throws by Forbes to extend the lead back to 70-65. After he made two free throws to extend the lead to seven, he jumped into Izzo’s arms after checking out of the game, while Turgeon and his players looked on in silence.