Over the final 25 minutes of regulation, the Terps played the “rope-a-dope” against the bigger Demon Deacons.
After the Terps jumped out to a 23-15 lead in the first half, a 15-4 Wake Forest run erased the advantage and seemingly put Maryland on the verge of a blowout loss. However, every time it appeared Wake Forest was ready to seize complete control and put Maryland away, the Terps grabbed the loose ball, capitalized with a put-back, or forced a turnover, keeping themselves within striking distance despite shooting only 40 percent from the field and struggling with their half-court offense.
The scrappy effort—and huge 3-point baskets by Landon Milbourne and Eric Hayes in the final minutes—landed the Terps temporary leads and eventually into overtime before Maryland lost its punching power, falling to Wake Forest, 85-83.
As has been the case for much of his four-year career in College Park, Greivis Vasquez kept the Terps (10-5, 1-1) in the game seemingly by himself, scoring 30 points and handing out seven assists. Unfortunately, even Vasquez ran out of gas in overtime, shooting only 1-for-6 and missing a key free throw. The senior missed a 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining before Sean Mosley missed another, ending Maryland’s hopes of stealing a huge ACC road win.
Expectations were relatively high for this year’s team with experts pointing to the Terps’ experience—led by seniors Vasquez, Hayes, and Milbourne—as the main reason, but none of the three had what it took to get Maryland over the hump in overtime, as they combined for only three points in the extra period.
Aside from their late second-half heroics, Milbourne and Hayes were quiet throughout the night, as the undersized Milbourne (11 points on 5-for-15 shooting) wore down against the Deacons’ frontcourt and Hayes (8 points) never got into the flow of the game after first-half foul trouble.
And while Mosley (8 points, 13 rebounds) looked to be emerging earlier in the season as a consistent scoring option to complement Vasquez, the sophomore hasn’t looked the same since spraining his ankle in practice on Christmas night. Mosley has averaged just 8 points per game since coming back from the injury, though his defensive prowess cannot be overlooked.
So, once again, it was Vasquez needing to do it. It’s no secret the Terps live and die with the senior from Caracas, Venezuela, but it’s clear no one other than Vasquez could step up to help secure the win Tuesday night. To his credit, freshman Jordan Williams (12 points) stood his ground against the imposing Wake big men, but it was hardly enough to compensate for the Terps’ other deficiencies in the paint.
Maryland clearly lacks the talent of a young big man such as Al-Farouq Aminu (24 points and 13 rebounds) who can seemingly take over a game in the low post, so it must rely on its transition game and experience to come up big on the road. And while Vasquez did it for most of the night, his effort alone wasn’t enough.
It may not have been a game the Terps were expected—or even needed—to win, but it hurts knowing they came so painfully close to the knockout and a road win, something the Terps will need to do at least a few times this season if they want to be “dancing” in March.
Tuesday night could have been an impressive win to jump-start another NCAA tournament push, but instead, it will simply go down as a blown opportunity for the Terrapins.
Check out the final stats right here and the live blog below.
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10:28 p.m. — SO close, but the Terps come up just short.
Mosley got a great look on the 3-pointer off the dribble after grabbing the rebound off the Vasquez miss.
Maryland falls in overtime, 85-83.
I agree with Gary Williams’ decision to go for the victory there. Just wish it had been a different result.
Back shortly with some final post-game thoughts.
10:24 p.m. — Smith hits the off-balanced runner to give Wake the lead at 85-83.
I don’t know how he made that.
Timeout, Maryland, with 14.8 seconds remaining. You would have to think Vasquez gets the ball here.
10:22 p.m. — A Vasquez foul sends Aminu to the line for two. He makes 1-of-2.
On the other end, Jordan Williams gets the tip-in off the Vasquez miss to tie it at 83!
10:20 p.m. — Two poor shots by Vasquez on that possession. No other way to describe it.
Maryland trails 82-81 with 1:01 remaining.
10:19 p.m. — Maryland gets out in transition, and Mosley takes it to the hole and draws the foul.
Can we PLEASE make our free throws?
Mosley drains both of them to make it a one-point game.
10:17 p.m. — Aminu picks up his fourth foul, sending Vasquez to the line. The senior misses the first but gets the second. Free throw shooting letting the Terps down here in overtime.
10:16 p.m. — Vasquez tries to draw the foul and puts up an air ball. Mosley grabs the offensive board but steps on the line. Gary Williams does not like the call.
Stewart hits another jumper, and Wake leads by 4.
10:14 p.m. — Ari Stewart gets the jumper to fall to give Wake a lead of 80-78 with 3:09 remaining. Timeout, Maryland.
10:13 p.m. — Williams misses two free throws. That hurts.
10:12 p.m. — Aminu hits a pair of freebies, and we’re tied at 78 with 3:45 to play.
10:10 p.m. — Vasquez hits the first basket of overtime to give Maryland the lead.
Wake cannot generate any offense on the other end, but the Deacons grab the offensive board. Following another miss, Milbourne pulls the board but travels with it.
Jordan Williams returns, giving Maryland a big lineup, but a few seconds later, Gregory fouls out. So much for the big lineup.
10:08 p.m. — As Glenn Clark pointed out on our Twitter feed (@WNST), it was hard not to think about another contest down in Winston-Salem when Laron Profit hit a game-winnter against Wake. Too bad we didn’t see a similar ending, but we’ll take overtime.
10:05 p.m. — OVERTIME. You’d like to get a better look than a Sean Mosley fadeaway jumper, but it was the right play by Vasquez to dish it to him.
10:04 p.m. — Aminu hits the free throw to tie the game. Timeout is called by Dino Gaudio.
10:03 p.m. — Vasquez with a huge jumper to regain the lead for the Terps.
A few moments later, Aminu pump fakes and draws a foul from Milbourne on a 3-point shot. A terrible play from a senior in that spot.
Aminu misses the first, makes the second, and Gary Williams will use a timeout to ice the sophomore on the third one.
10:00 p.m. — McFarland gets the tip-in off the Smith miss. Tie game.
9:59 p.m. — Hayes with a big three to give Maryland a 74-72 lead.
Maryland’s other seniors have finally emerged after quiet nights.
9:58 p.m. — Harris is fouled by Vasquez, and the frosh hits both free throws to give Wake a two-point lead.
Hayes cannot hit a deep three, but Milbourne chases it down. A moment later, Milbourne hits a THREE to give Maryland a one-point lead!
9:55 p.m. — Milbourne with a HUGE jumper from the corner to tie it at 65.
Harris hits another three to immediately grab the lead back, but Vasquez hits a three of his own. WOW!
9:53 p.m. — We’ve reached the final media timeout of the second half with Maryland trailing Wake, 65-63, with 3:54 to play.
What more could the Terps ask for despite shooting only 38 percent from the field in this one?
9:51 p.m. — Vasquez almost hits the runner in the lane after being fouled by L.D. Williams, his fifth foul. That’s a big loss for the Deacons.
The senior hits both free throws, cutting the lead to two. Maryland continues to hang right there despite their offensive woes.
9:49 p.m. — Another offensive rebound for the Deacons will send L.D. Williams to the charity stripe. He makes 1-of-2 to push the lead to four points.
9:47 p.m. — Vasquez has now gone ice cold. It’s just hard to envision the Terps pulling this one out with no one shooting well at this point.
9:45 p.m. — Does anyone else get the feeling the deficit is bigger than only five? This game has the feel of Wake being in complete control, but the Terps are one big run away from retaking the lead.
9:43 p.m. — We’ve reached the under-8 timeout with Wake Forest leading by five points. Maryland is just doing nothing on the offensive end.
9:41 p.m. – Smith drains a jumper, and the senior now has 12.
With Vasquez out of the game, it’s clear no one wants to take the shot. Following the block on Bowie, Wake finishes in transition with an Aminu dunk. Ugh.
9:39 p.m. — With Vasquez now cooling off, it’s imperative that SOMEONE steps up for the Terps.
A beautiful look from Vasquez on the in-bounds play leads to a layup for Jordan Williams. Maryland trails by three points at 60-57.
9:36 p.m. — Great anticipation from Bowie, grabbing the steal and going the distance for the layup, giving him 10 points for the game.
Perhaps that play can get the Terps going with 10 minutes to play.
9:35 p.m. — We’ve reached an official timeout with Wake leading the Terps, 58-53.
Though Mosley is the Terps’ leading rebounding with eight in the game, I’m beginning to wonder what toll the sprained ankle sustained on Christmas night has taken on the sophomore. The improved shooting stroke and offensive production we saw early in the year has disappeared.
Mosley has averaged only 8.0 ppg since the injury going into tonight, and he only has four in this one. He appeared to be the best candidate to become that second scoring option behind Vasquez, but it simply hasn’t happened since the injury.
9:30 p.m. — Padgett simply NEEDS to play stronger in the paint. Efforts like that are not going to draw any calls from officials—or any more playing time from Gary Williams.
Someone has to step up for the Terps other than Vasquez. Just nothing going offensively.
9:27 p.m. — Woods just ERASED that shot from Vasquez. Maryland then has trouble getting the ball in and has to throw it to the backcourt.
Vasquez turns it over, leading to a layup for Smith.
Timeout, Maryland. Wake leads by six as the Terps are having trouble generating much of anything on the offensive end.
9:23 p.m. — Smith hits a jumper from behind the free throw line. He’s been quite tonight.
Following a Mosley miss, Woods gets the jam and Wake leads by six. Danger time for the Terps here.
9:21 p.m. — A very smart play by Vasquez to draw the foul on the long jumper (foot on the line), leading to L.D. Williams picking up his third foul.
9:19 p.m. — Maryland is REALLY struggling on the glass now as the bigger Demon Deacons are beginning to show why they’re the top rebounding team in the conference.
We’ve reached our first official timeout of the second half with Wake Forest leading the Terps, 50-47.
9:17 p.m. — The one-handed runner by Vasquez cuts the lead to three. The Terps will need their leader to have a similar effort to what he showed against Florida State on Sunday.
9:15 p.m. — Mosley with a nice offensive board and finds Williams for a close-range shot. However, McFarland drains a long one for Wake.
Mosley with a beautiful pass to Milbourne, but the senior forward blows the layup. You cannot miss that shot.
9:14 p.m. — Hayes loses the ball out of bounds, Maryland’s ninth turnover. The Terps did a better job protecting the ball as the first half progressed, but it’s been a sloppy effort overall.
Aminu’s one-handed jam gives Wake a five-point advantage.
9:12 p.m. — Mike Gminski REALLY doesn’t have HD television? Wow, I thought I was the last one before finally seeing the light a couple months ago.
9:00 p.m. — Check out the first half stats right here.
8:55 p.m. — Gregory picks up his third foul with five seconds to go in the half. Not good, but I suppose it’s better than Jordan Williams picking it up.
Following a timeout, Vasquez misses a long three at the buzzer to close out the first half.
Wake Forest leads Maryland, 42-39. Definitely a disappointing finish to the half as the Terps had control of this one up until the seven-minute mark.
8:53 p.m. — Vasquez grabs the offensive rebound and is fouled. In the double bonus, Vasquez drains a pair of free throws for the Terps.
Smith misses a layup, and the Terps get out in transition, leading to Bowie being fouled on the layup attempt. The junior hits both freebies, giving him eight points. Bowie has played some quality minutes in Hayes’ absence due to foul trouble.
8:51 p.m. — Foul trouble is clearly plaguing the Terps as Williams, Gregory, and Hayes are all stuck on the bench with two fouls. It’s not coincidence the Deacons–and Aminu–began to wake up after that.
Harris hits a long triple to give Wake a five-point advantage. However, Bowie hits a RARE 3-pointer on the other end.
C.J. Harris just drilled ANOTHER triple from Raleigh to give him 13 points for the game. He’s only averaging 11.6 a game.
Timeout, Maryland.
8:47 p.m. — Remember when I said Aminu was hung over from Saturday’s loss? So much for that as the sophomore now has 11 points.
8:42 p.m. — A 6-0 run followed by a 7-0 run a couple minutes later has turned an eight-point lead into a 3-point lead for Wake.
The Deacons are on a 15-4 run since the Terps lead 23-15 with just over seven minutes to go in the half.
8:41 p.m. — Chas McFarland with a nice play, keeping the loose ball alive, which leads to the Harris layup. That looked more like a volleyball game than anything.
Harris hits a 3-pointer and Maryland’s lead is gone. Wake leads 28-27 with 4:15 to go.
8:37 p.m. — Maryland is beaten in transition again, leading to a Gary Clark layup and Hayes’ second foul. Clark completes the three-point play to shave the lead to five points.
Milbourne’s shot is blocked by Aminu, and the big sophomore scores on the other end plus the foul. Aminu hits the free throw, and the momentum has clearly shifted in favor of the Deacons.
Timeout, Maryland.
8:34 p.m. — The Terps continue to impress, holding a 23-15 lead and rebounding advantage against the Demon Deacons as we reach the under-8 timeout.
8:31 p.m. — Tony Woods with the big two-handed dunk, drawing a second foul on Williams as the freshman was beaten on the baseline. I guess my previous compliment jinxed the big man.
Gregory is fouled on the other end and makes a pair of free throws after a lane violation gives him a second chance.
8:30 p.m. — Aminu is definitely showing a bit of a hangover from his poor effort against Miami. The star sophomore only has two free throws and has not made a field goal in the game’s first 10 minutes.
8:28 p.m. — Jordan Williams with the block, forcing the jump ball. He’s continuing to be more assertive in the paint as a frosh.
8:26 p.m. — Vasquez throws it away as he was clearly anticipating that Gregory would cut to the basket. I know Gary Williams loves the junior forward’s energy, but he has to show a bit more of an offensive game near the basket.
8:24 p.m. — Smith is off to a quick start of his own against the Terps as the senior has six points.
Milbourne scores on the other end to push the lead back up to four points.
Following a Smith miss on the other end, a huge scrum with multiple players diving for the loose ball results in it going out of bounds to Wake. The Terps weren’t able to secure the loose ball off the long rebound, but it’s nice to see the effort after some uninspiring rebounding efforts earlier in the year.
8:21 p.m. — Adrian Bowie and Dino Gregory have checked in as Vasquez drains another three. The Venezuelan is en fuego with eight points already!
Maryland leads Wake, 15-11, with 11:47 remaining at the second media timeout.
8:19 p.m. — Vasquez drives the lane and finds a wide-open Jordan Williams on the dunk, an absolutely beautiful look!
8:18 p.m. — Smith drains the long jumper and the Deacons regain the lead. Vasquez answers with a 3-ball.
L.D. Williams hits a triple of his own as we’re seeing a bit of a shootout right now.
8:17 p.m. — Vasquez posts up and hits the jump hook, taking advantage of the mismatch.
After Hayes picks up a foul, Ari Stewart misses a shot and it goes out of bounds to Maryland. Vasquez’s shot is blocked, but the Terps will keep it and then immediately turn it over.
Very sloppy start for the Terps in the turnover department.
8:12 p.m. — Aminu settles for another long jumper and misses. On the other end, Hayes splashes a triple.
We’ve reached our first official timeout with Wake leading the Terps, 6-5.
8:11 p.m. — Mosley with the foul on Aminu, sending the big sophomore to the line. He makes a pair of freebies, and the Deacons lead 4-0.
Hayes with a beautiful dish to a wide-open Jordan Williams for the dunk, but the Terps are beat on the other end for a L.D. Williams layup. The Terps CANNOT get beat in transition if they want a chance in this one.
8:09 p.m. — Maryland with two turnovers in about 10 seconds. Not taking care of the basketball early with three turnovers in a little over a minute.
Jordan Williams did a great job defending the Williams dunk, but Milbourne misses the jumper on the other end. Maryland scoreless in the first 2+ minutes of the game.
8:07 p.m. — Maryland grabs the opening tip (dressed in red). Mosley misses the first shot of the game, but Aminu takes a three on the other end and misses. He can stay out there all day long if it were up to me.
Williams is called for the offensive foul a possession later.
8:00 p.m. — Here are tonight’s starting lineups:
Maryland
G Greivis Vasquez
G Eric Hayes
G Sean Mosley
F Landon Milbourne
C Jordan Williams
Wake Forest
G Ishmael Smith
G C.J. Harris
G L.D. Williams
F Al-Farouq Aminu
C David Weaver
Steve Martin (no, not THAT one) and Mike Gminski will provide the call for Raycom Sports.
7:47 p.m. — As Terps fanatic and WNST host Bob Haynie astutely pointed out, the Demon Deacons’ size figures to be a serious concern for Gary Williams’s squad, but the Deacons are coming off a poor rebounding effort against Miami in which Gaudio criticized his team’s effort in boxing out.
The Terps won the rebounding effort against the Seminoles, an effort they will need to duplicate against Wake. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Gary Williams show some bigger looks at times tonight by using Jordan Williams and Dino Gregory or James Padgett at the same time, with Milbourne sliding down to the 3.
7:35 p.m. — Good evening, Terps fans, and Happy Festivus as we await the start of Maryland’s ACC road opener in Winston-Salem against Dino Gaudio’s Demon Deacons (11-3, 1-1). The Terps (10-4, 1-0) are fresh off a conference-opening 77-68 victory over Florida State at the Comcast Center on Sunday evening. My apologies for the lack of coverage as I was returning from Foxborough after the Ravens’ huge playoff victory over the Patriots.
Wake Forest will try to rebound from a disappointing 67-66 loss at Miami on Saturday. The Demon Deacons are led by sophomore forward Al-Farouq Aminu who leads the team in both points (16.8 per game) and rebounds (11.6 per game). The 6-foot-9 big man—along with 7-footer Chas McFarland—will clearly provide a huge challenge to Jordan Williams, Landon Milbourne, and the Maryland frontcourt.
Greivis Vasquez, as he’s done so many times in his four years in College Park, saved the Terps in the second half with a 17-point effort and 22 for the game, his sixth-straight game with 20 or more points. The senior drilled a 3-pointer with 2:23 remaining to push the Terps’ advantage to nine points after the Seminoles were trying to climb back into the game in the final minutes.
Maryland has an opportunity to post its most impressive win of the season if it can steal an ACC road victory after a quick turnaround from Sunday’s game. Interestingly enough, both the Terps and Demon Deacons have lost to William & Mary this season, so both schools would clearly like to earn a win against an opponent expected to be in the upper half of the conference this season.
Senior Eric Hayes needs only seven points to become the 48th Terp to reach the 1000-point mark in school history. The guard scored 17 points against the Seminoles in Sunday’s win.
Tonight’s game can be seen on WNUV-TV in Baltimore (the Raycom Sports network) at 8:00 p.m.
And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter (@WNST) for thoughts and updates throughout the contest.
