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Maryland basketball escapes South Dakota State in NCAA tournament Maryland basketball escapes South Dakota State in NCAA tournament
(about 1 hour later)
SPOKANE, Wash. — The Maryland locker room was joyful shortly after Friday’s 79-74 win over South Dakota State in the first round of the NCAA tournament, with players sitting in their socks and rummaging through text messages after surviving the most stressful game of the season. They mostly looked relieved, talking quietly among themselves about the stunning course of events that had taken place over the previous hour.SPOKANE, Wash. — The Maryland locker room was joyful shortly after Friday’s 79-74 win over South Dakota State in the first round of the NCAA tournament, with players sitting in their socks and rummaging through text messages after surviving the most stressful game of the season. They mostly looked relieved, talking quietly among themselves about the stunning course of events that had taken place over the previous hour.
[NCAA tournament live updates, scores and more][NCAA tournament live updates, scores and more]
Senior guard Rasheed Sulaimon alone sat in one corner. Minutes earlier, as the tension rose and Maryland’s 18-point lead disintegrated in the final minutes, Sulaimon called an impromptu huddle. “We’re fine,” he said to his teammates, sensing that they needed his poise now more than ever. He also had to calm himself down after what he called a “boneheaded” mistake with 12 seconds remaining — fouling Deondre Parks on a three-point attempt, the foul shots pulling the Jackrabbits within one score after trailing by 18 with less than nine minutes remaining. Senior guard Rasheed Sulaimon alone sat in one corner. Minutes earlier, as the tension rose and Maryland’s 18-point lead disintegrated in the final minutes, Sulaimon called an impromptu huddle. “We’re fine,” he said to his teammates, sensing that they needed his poise now more than ever. He also had to calm himself down after what he called a “boneheaded” mistake with 13 seconds remaining — fouling Deondre Parks on a three-point attempt, with the foul shots pulling the Jackrabbits within one score after they trailed by 18 with less than nine minutes remaining.
It was an unexpected mistake from the senior, but on South Dakota State’s next possession he showed exactly why he’s Maryland’s most experienced postseason player. With South Dakota State trailing by three and in need of a miracle, Sulaimon came up with a steal about 35 feet from the rim, finishing off the play with an exclamatory dunk as his teammates exhaled. It was an unexpected mistake from the senior, but on South Dakota State’s next possession, he showed exactly why he’s Maryland’s most experienced postseason player. With South Dakota State trailing by three and in need of a miracle, Sulaimon came up with a steal about 35 feet from the rim, finishing off the play with an exclamatory dunk as his teammates exhaled.
“We celebrated it, man,” Sulaimon said. “Every win in this tournament is a cause for celebration.”“We celebrated it, man,” Sulaimon said. “Every win in this tournament is a cause for celebration.”
The Terrapins (26-8), seeded fifth in the South Region, advanced to the second round for a game Sunday against No. 13 seed Hawaii, which upset No. 4 California earlier Friday. But it almost wasn’t so for the Terrapins, who nearly suffered a meltdown in the final four minutes. Maryland had been cruising thanks to a 27-point performance from senior forward Jake Layman, but it encountered foul trouble down the stretch. The Terrapins (26-8), seeded fifth in the South Region, advanced to the second round for a game Sunday against No. 13 seed Hawaii, which upset No. 4 seed California earlier Friday. But it almost wasn’t so for the Terrapins, who nearly suffered a meltdown in the final four minutes. Maryland had been cruising thanks to a 27-point performance from senior forward Jake Layman, but it encountered foul trouble down the stretch.
[Cal is staggered by injuries and four trouble, then knocked out by Hawaii][Cal is staggered by injuries and four trouble, then knocked out by Hawaii]
That included by sophomore guard Melo Trimble, who finished with 19 points but fouled out in the final minutes. His absence came during a late charge by South Dakota State, which trailed by 11 with four minutes left. Parks led the No. 12 seed Jackrabbits (26-8) with 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting. That included by sophomore guard Melo Trimble, who finished with 19 points but fouled out in the final minutes. His absence came during a late charge by South Dakota State, which trailed by 11 with four minutes left. Parks led the 12th-seeded Jackrabbits (26-8) with 22 points on 7-for-9 shooting.
Trimble played with an understated aggression in the first half on Friday, carving up South Dakota State’s offense with relentless penetration into the lane. He attacked from the top of the key, off screens and curls, pounding the ball and getting to the line nine times. He had shot just six free throws in his last three games combined. Maryland hit 24 of 27 foul shots in all on Friday. Trimble played with an understated aggression in the first half Friday, carving up South Dakota State’s offense with relentless penetration into the lane. He attacked from the top of the key, off screens and curls, pounding the ball and getting to the line nine times. He had shot just six free throws in his previous three games combined. Maryland hit 24 of 27 foul shots in all Friday.
[Michigan State is stunned by Middle Tennessee, and now all bets are off][Michigan State is stunned by Middle Tennessee, and now all bets are off]
Maryland was far from perfect — particularly in allowing 52 second-half points — but largely stuck to Turgeon’s game plan, protecting the rim and forcing the Jackrabbits to chuck three-pointers at a high clip. South Dakota State hit just 4-of-17 in the first 20 minutes and finished 10 of 29 from downtown, shooting well below its season average on a day when it needed to heat up to have a chance at an upset. Maryland was far from perfect — particularly in allowing 52 second-half points — but largely stuck to Coach Mark Turgeon’s game plan, protecting the rim and forcing the Jackrabbits to chuck three-pointers at a high clip. South Dakota State hit just 4 of 17 in the first 20 minutes and finished 10 for 29 from downtown, shooting well below its season average on a day when it needed to heat up to have a chance at an upset.
The highlight of South Dakota State’s first half came when freshman center Mike Daum (16 points) dunked over Maryland center Damonte Dodd to make it 14-12, sending the Spokane crowd into a frenzy and giving the Jackrabbits’ bench the belief that it could contend with Maryland’s size and length. The highlight of South Dakota State’s first half came when freshman center Mike Daum (16 points) dunked over Maryland center Damonte Dodd to make it 14-12, sending the Spokane crowd into a frenzy and giving the Jackrabbits the belief that they could contend with Maryland’s size and length.
Trimble picked up his third foul on a charge just 90 seconds into the second half, and he was joined on the bench by Diamond Stone after the freshman center picked up his third foul with 16:21 remaining. (Stone took only three shots for the game and finished with four points and four rebounds in 22 minutes.) About a minute later, junior forward Robert Carter Jr. (seven points, game-high 11 rebounds) also came out of the game after picking up his third. Stone Trimble picked up his third foul on a charge just 90 seconds into the second half, and he was joined on the bench by Diamond Stone after the freshman center picked up his third foul with 16:21 remaining. (Stone took only three shots for the game and finished with four points and four rebounds in 22 minutes.) About a minute later, junior forward Robert Carter Jr. (seven points, game-high 11 rebounds) also came out of the game after picking up his third.
South Dakota State didn’t capitalize on that attrition though, largely because it couldn’t guard Layman and Nickens. The small forwards each hit two three-pointers on four consecutive possessions and combined to score 17 consecutive points to give Maryland a 55-42 lead with 11:53 remaining. South Dakota State didn’t capitalize on that attrition though, largely because it couldn’t guard Layman and Jared Nickens. The small forwards each hit two three-pointers on four consecutive possessions and combined to score 17 consecutive points to give Maryland a 55-42 lead with 11:53 remaining.
“I thought for 36 minutes, we were really good,” Maryland Coach Mark Turgeon said. “I thought for 36 minutes we were really good,” Turgeon said.
Maryland likely wouldn’t have been able to weather the foul trouble just a month ago, when Nickens was slumping and Turgeon had limited options in the back court. But the sophomore forward has rediscovered his touch in timely fashion. He’s now hit multiple three-pointers in five of his last seven games. He finished Friday’s game with 14 points, two off his season high. [Jerry Brewer: Both sides now: Jekyll-and-Hyde Terps survive and advance]
His resurgence has coincided with Layman, who came on strong during the Big Ten tournament and continued his strong play on Friday. “He’s the one that probably won the game for them,” South Dakota State Coach Scott Nagy said. Maryland likely wouldn’t have been able to weather the foul trouble just a month ago, when Nickens was slumping and Turgeon had limited options in the back court. But the sophomore forward has rediscovered his touch in timely fashion. He now has hit multiple three-pointers in five of his past seven games. He finished Friday’s game with 14 points, two off his season high.
The Jackrabbits never relented down the stretch. Trimble fouled out after making contact with Marshall on a three-pointer with 1:03 remaining, and the senior transfer from Wisconsin knocked down all three shots at the line to make it 72-70. Layman was fouled on the ensuing possession and knocked down two shots to push the lead back to four with 43 seconds remaining. His resurgence has coincided with that of Layman, who came on strong during the Big Ten tournament and continued his strong play Friday. “He’s the one that probably won the game for them,” South Dakota State Coach Scott Nagy said.
After Layman made it a five-point game with 18 seconds left, Sulaimon fouled Parks on another three-pointer. The South Dakota State guard knocked down all three to cut it to 76-74 with 12 seconds left. Maryland guard Jaylen Brantley, replacing Trimble, knocked down one of two free throws in the ensuing possession to set up the dramatic finish. It came after Sulaimon provided a soothing voice. The Jackrabbits never relented down the stretch. Trimble fouled out after making contact with George Marshall on a three-pointer with 1:03 remaining, and the senior transfer from Wisconsin knocked down all three shots at the line to make it 72-70. Layman was fouled on the ensuing possession and knocked down two shots to push the lead back to four with 43 seconds remaining.
After Layman made it a five-point game with two free throws with 18 seconds left, Sulaimon fouled Parks on another three-pointer. The South Dakota State guard knocked down all three to cut it to 76-74 with 13 seconds left. Maryland guard Jaylen Brantley, replacing Trimble, knocked down one of two free throws on the ensuing possession to set up the dramatic finish. It came after Sulaimon provided a soothing voice.
“I think everyone believed me,” Sulaimon said, “because even down the stretch when they were making that push, we still had control of that game.”“I think everyone believed me,” Sulaimon said, “because even down the stretch when they were making that push, we still had control of that game.”