The Terps improved to 3-5 on the road this season.
No. 25 Maryland men’s basketball survived this week’s road game, outlasting Nebraska, 83-75, Thursday night. The Terps have won six of their last seven games.
Here are three takeaways from the contest.
Maryland outplayed Nebraska in nearly every facet
While the game came down to the final few possessions, you would not know by looking at each team’s box score.
The Terps were incredibly efficient, shooting 58.5% from the field and 46.7% from three — their most efficient game in nearly two months. Meanwhile, Nebraska shot 43.1% from the field and 36% from three. Maryland also outrebounded the Huskers, 34-22, committed two less fouls and tallied one more steal.
However, Nebraska recorded two less turnovers and shot 94.1% on 17 free-throw attempts, which helped keep it in the game late. Six of Nebraska’s final eight points were scored on free throws, constraining the Terps from taking more than a two possession lead.
Queen’s dominance continues
Fresh off a career-high 29-point performance against Rutgers Sunday, Derik Queen continued to strengthen his Big Ten Freshman of the Year case Thursday.
Queen started the game’s scoring with an easy layup on a smaller defender in the paint before hitting a contested turnaround jumper and reverse driving layup. Each of Queen’s first three field goals were a perfect encapsulation of how his night played out.
Throughout the game, Queen backed down defenders, spun away from the basket and knocked down jumpers — sometimes over multiple defenders. He also got some easy looks off offensive rebounds, tapping in multiple missed shots as they trickled off the rim. He finished with five offensive rebounds and six second-chance points.
Queen displayed his handle and mobility as a scorer and facilitator as well, dribbling through the lane for easy looks and finding open teammates in transition.
Thursday night was a stark difference from the first time the Terps and Huskers met. In the Jan. 19 matchup, Queen scored just three points on 0-of-4 shooting. He totaled a game-high 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting, 11 rebounds and an assist Thursday.
Highs and lows are expected for freshmen in the Big Ten, but you can’t get much higher than Queen’s last two showings.
Zero production from the bench
In 17 minutes of action, Maryland’s three bench players — DeShawn Harris-Smith, Jordan Geronimo and Jaylon Young — provided virtually nothing for the Terps on both sides of the court. The three combined for a statline of zero points, four rebounds, an assist, a steal, four fouls and three turnovers.
As a result, head coach Kevin Willard heavily relied on his five starters, who all saw at least 34 minutes — with Rodney Rice playing a team-high 39 minutes — and recorded double-digit points.
Queen led the way, followed by Selton Miguel’s 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 shooting from three, one of which was an incredibly difficult step back over a Nebraska defender. Gillespie also shot 3-of-5 from deep, finishing with 15 points, seven assists and three rebounds. Rice was just 1-of-5 from three, but still tallied 14 points. No other Terp shot a 3-pointer.
Reese was a bit too quiet and too loud at times. He only shot the ball six times en route to 13 points and 12 rebounds, but he was also called for a flagrant and technical foul, which resulted in four made free throws. Reese was a defensive anchor, though, recording a steal and two blocks, one of which — on Rollie Worster late in the second half — could be heard from College Park.
While Tafara Gapare was sidelined for the second consecutive game, all three bench contributors were net negatives Thursday, which is inexcusable.