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| Maryland starts fast, holds off Nebraska in Big Ten quarterfinals | Maryland starts fast, holds off Nebraska in Big Ten quarterfinals |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| INDIANAPOLIS — Diamond Stone put his left hand to the back of his head for a brief second before throwing down a vicious right-handed dunk in the first half of Friday night’s Big Ten quarterfinal against Nebraska, displaying the kind of swagger that had eluded Maryland for much of the past month. It mattered little that the Terrapins’ 97-86 win Friday came against a weary Cornhuskers team that was playing its third game in three nights or that the two teams combined for the most points in a game in tournament history. | INDIANAPOLIS — Diamond Stone put his left hand to the back of his head for a brief second before throwing down a vicious right-handed dunk in the first half of Friday night’s Big Ten quarterfinal against Nebraska, displaying the kind of swagger that had eluded Maryland for much of the past month. It mattered little that the Terrapins’ 97-86 win Friday came against a weary Cornhuskers team that was playing its third game in three nights or that the two teams combined for the most points in a game in tournament history. |
| This performance was more about Maryland feeling good about itself again, about restoring order within its own ranks after it dropped four of its final six to end the regular season. The past week was humbling — Maryland’s players were forced to block out talk of their plummeting NCAA tournament stock and murmurs from an anxious fan base that speculated that they might not live up to the gaudy expectations this wild season has drummed up. | This performance was more about Maryland feeling good about itself again, about restoring order within its own ranks after it dropped four of its final six to end the regular season. The past week was humbling — Maryland’s players were forced to block out talk of their plummeting NCAA tournament stock and murmurs from an anxious fan base that speculated that they might not live up to the gaudy expectations this wild season has drummed up. |
| [Layman has his way with Cornhuskers in quarterfinal victory] | |
| “It’s just about us having fun,” Stone said. “I’m a little goofball. I was just showing off a little bit.” | “It’s just about us having fun,” Stone said. “I’m a little goofball. I was just showing off a little bit.” |
| More will be revealed Saturday when Maryland meets No. 2 seed Michigan State in the tournament semifinals, but the fans who trekked to Bankers Life Fieldhouse at least could rest easy late Friday night. They witnessed a beautiful brand of basketball on the offensive end. | More will be revealed Saturday when Maryland meets No. 2 seed Michigan State in the tournament semifinals, but the fans who trekked to Bankers Life Fieldhouse at least could rest easy late Friday night. They witnessed a beautiful brand of basketball on the offensive end. |
| It began with senior Jake Layman, who hit four three-pointers early in the first half and finished with a season-high 26 points. It continued with the dominance of Stone, who again put his wunderkind talent on full display. He had 23 points and eight rebounds and demoralized the Cornhuskers with a string of dunks in the first 10 minutes of the game. | It began with senior Jake Layman, who hit four three-pointers early in the first half and finished with a season-high 26 points. It continued with the dominance of Stone, who again put his wunderkind talent on full display. He had 23 points and eight rebounds and demoralized the Cornhuskers with a string of dunks in the first 10 minutes of the game. |
| Nebraska didn’t go quietly — it used a pair of three-pointers to cut the lead to six with 1 minute 40 seconds remaining — but the Terrapins were able to polish off the win thanks in large part to the cushion they built in the first half and early stages of the second. They led by 25 points less than five minutes after halftime. | Nebraska didn’t go quietly — it used a pair of three-pointers to cut the lead to six with 1 minute 40 seconds remaining — but the Terrapins were able to polish off the win thanks in large part to the cushion they built in the first half and early stages of the second. They led by 25 points less than five minutes after halftime. |
| Maryland’s 97 points set a Big Ten tournament record, and it shot 60.3 percent from the field. The Terrapins hit 13 of 22 from beyond the arc and finished with 35 field goals on 20 assists. | Maryland’s 97 points set a Big Ten tournament record, and it shot 60.3 percent from the field. The Terrapins hit 13 of 22 from beyond the arc and finished with 35 field goals on 20 assists. |
| Stone was the beneficiary of a number of crafty passes from sophomore point guard Melo Trimble, who finished eight assists and continued to look more and more like himself. His performance was an exercise in restraint. He had only one field goal in the first 15 minutes, instead using his passing ability to shred Nebraska’s defense. | Stone was the beneficiary of a number of crafty passes from sophomore point guard Melo Trimble, who finished eight assists and continued to look more and more like himself. His performance was an exercise in restraint. He had only one field goal in the first 15 minutes, instead using his passing ability to shred Nebraska’s defense. |
| “This whole week . . . we just talked about having fun,” said Trimble, who still finished with 16 points. “That’s how we played.” | “This whole week . . . we just talked about having fun,” said Trimble, who still finished with 16 points. “That’s how we played.” |
| [Jerry Brewer: Spartans’ seniors intend to make themselves heard] | |
| The game began to turn at the 10:58 mark of the first half, when Trimble drove into the lane and dropped off a nifty pass to set up a Stone dunk for a 22-16 lead. That sparked a 13-2 run and the most complete offensive performance in weeks for Maryland. | The game began to turn at the 10:58 mark of the first half, when Trimble drove into the lane and dropped off a nifty pass to set up a Stone dunk for a 22-16 lead. That sparked a 13-2 run and the most complete offensive performance in weeks for Maryland. |
| The Terrapins scored a season-high 54 points in the first 20 minutes, hitting 71.4 percent from the field. It drained 9 of 10 from three-point range, creating open looks with quicker ball movement and the kind of pace that Maryland has struggled to maintain in recent losses. Not only was the outside shooting locked in — Layman finished with six threes, while Trimble had four, Jared Nickens had two and Rasheed Sulaimon (10 points) had one — but it also received productive inside-out play thanks to Stone and power forward Robert Carter Jr. | The Terrapins scored a season-high 54 points in the first 20 minutes, hitting 71.4 percent from the field. It drained 9 of 10 from three-point range, creating open looks with quicker ball movement and the kind of pace that Maryland has struggled to maintain in recent losses. Not only was the outside shooting locked in — Layman finished with six threes, while Trimble had four, Jared Nickens had two and Rasheed Sulaimon (10 points) had one — but it also received productive inside-out play thanks to Stone and power forward Robert Carter Jr. |
| “We followed our game plan,” Maryland Coach Mark Turgeon said. “We really shared the ball.” | “We followed our game plan,” Maryland Coach Mark Turgeon said. “We really shared the ball.” |
| Carter Jr., who finished with 13 points, worked the high post all night. He found himself with the ball at the elbow with 7:53 remaining in the first half, only to pivot and find Stone near the rim for another two-handed slam. | Carter Jr., who finished with 13 points, worked the high post all night. He found himself with the ball at the elbow with 7:53 remaining in the first half, only to pivot and find Stone near the rim for another two-handed slam. |
| After Layman and Trimble hit back-to-back threes to push the lead to 46-28, Stone later made the play of the night with just under two minutes remaining before half. He scrapped his way to a defensive rebound in traffic and hit Trimble on an outlet pass, then outran the entire Nebraska defense to the other end of the floor. Trimble dropped an easy pass to his streaking teammate, who showed off by holding his hand behind his newly shaved head for effect before dunking. | After Layman and Trimble hit back-to-back threes to push the lead to 46-28, Stone later made the play of the night with just under two minutes remaining before half. He scrapped his way to a defensive rebound in traffic and hit Trimble on an outlet pass, then outran the entire Nebraska defense to the other end of the floor. Trimble dropped an easy pass to his streaking teammate, who showed off by holding his hand behind his newly shaved head for effect before dunking. |
| “I needed a fresh start. It’s tournament time. Time to get serious, no more little dreads,” Stone said of his haircut. He added that his dunk was something new he was trying as an ode to former Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone, who used to win style points with the slam. He laughed about it with Carter in the locker room later on. | “I needed a fresh start. It’s tournament time. Time to get serious, no more little dreads,” Stone said of his haircut. He added that his dunk was something new he was trying as an ode to former Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone, who used to win style points with the slam. He laughed about it with Carter in the locker room later on. |
| [Virginia holds off Miami, advances to ACC final] | |
| Trimble opened the second half with a three-pointer, and Layman followed with a steal and dunk in transition. Maryland led 92-76 after Stone’s last dunk of the night with 4:15 remaining, and he received an ovation as Turgeon brought him off the floor with about two minutes remaining. Even as the Cornhuskers trimmed the lead to six with a late flurry and with Stone looking on, Maryland used five late free throw and a key offensive rebound from Layman to preserve the lead. | Trimble opened the second half with a three-pointer, and Layman followed with a steal and dunk in transition. Maryland led 92-76 after Stone’s last dunk of the night with 4:15 remaining, and he received an ovation as Turgeon brought him off the floor with about two minutes remaining. Even as the Cornhuskers trimmed the lead to six with a late flurry and with Stone looking on, Maryland used five late free throw and a key offensive rebound from Layman to preserve the lead. |
| Maryland will need that kind of hustle when it takes the floor Saturday against Michigan State, which steamrolled Ohio State, 81-54, in the quarterfinals. The Spartans outran Maryland in a 74-65 win in East Lansing in January, but it might have difficulty replicating that performance if Maryland plays with same juice it did Friday night. | Maryland will need that kind of hustle when it takes the floor Saturday against Michigan State, which steamrolled Ohio State, 81-54, in the quarterfinals. The Spartans outran Maryland in a 74-65 win in East Lansing in January, but it might have difficulty replicating that performance if Maryland plays with same juice it did Friday night. |
| “They play fast. We’re going to try to slow them down a little bit,” Layman said. “It’s going to be a fun game.” | “They play fast. We’re going to try to slow them down a little bit,” Layman said. “It’s going to be a fun game.” |