The Maryland Terrapins showed the college basketball world why they are a top-tier team in the Big Ten with a 68-54 road victory against the #3 Purdue Boilermakers. Purdue was in control of the game at the half with a three-point lead, but the Terrapins put on a show in the second half and completely outplayed their opponents.
The difference between the two teams was the amount of free throws each team had in the first half. Maryland was able to get to the line 11 times while Purdue only had two attempts. This disparity in free throws allowed Maryland to gain momentum entering the second half and they were able to carry this into the final twenty minutes.
The Terrapins’ offense was led by Anthony Cowan Jr. and Jalen Smith. Cowan Jr. had a team-high 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists while Smith had 11 points and eight rebounds. These two players were crucial in Maryland’s second-half surge that pushed the game out of reach for Purdue.
The Boilermakers were unable to find an answer for the Terrapins’ second-half explosion. Purdue was led by Trevion Williams and Eric Hunter Jr. who both had 13 points, but couldn’t get the job done late in the game. Purdue shot poorly from beyond the arc and were outscored 24-16 in the paint. The Boilermakers simply had no answer for the Terrapins’ hot shooting in the second half.
The Terrapins proved that the comeback win against Purdue at Mackey Arena was no fluke. Maryland is now 15-4 on the season and have solidified themselves as a legitimate threat in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers, on the other hand, have now lost three straight road games and will need to make adjustments if they want to have any chance of making a deep run in March.
