The 17th-ranked Maryland Terrapins, behind a spectacular season-high 21 points from junior Jake Layman whipped the Oklahoma State Cowboys 73-64 to hand them their first home loss of the season at a disappointed Gallagher-Iba Arena.
The Terps built a big lead on the strength of a burst to start the second half and then held on to get an impressive first road victory of the season while improving to (11-1) for the season.
Maryland had a 64-53 lead with 2:56 to play in the game, but the Cowboys would not quit. They went on an 8-3 run to cut the Terps lead to 67-61. Cowboy Phil Forte III then hit a long three to make the score 69-64 with 14 seconds to play in the game.
Fortunately for Maryland they have the best free throw shooter in the Big Ten, Melo Trimble who is hitting 90 percent of his free throws for the season. He hit four of the final six Maryland free throws to help his team secure the win. Trimble finished the game with 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Up 32-27 at the half the Terps went on a 15-3 run to start the second half to seize control of the game. They never trailed in the second half. A Jared Nicken’s pull up jumper gave Maryland a 45-30 lead with 17:06 to play in the game. Maryland had their largest lead at 47-30 on a Demonte Dodd dunk on an assist from Layman with 16:32 to play.
The Cowboys fought back with a good trapping defense and some sloppy play by the Terps down the stretch, who committed 13 turnovers, eight in the second half.
Meanwhile, every time it appeared the Cowboys would make a run, Layman had an answer. He was 10-15 from the field and four for four from the line. Layman also finished the game with a career-best 11 rebounds and two steals and has been a leader for the team while leading scorer Dez Wells has been out with an injured hand.
Nickens, who hit a three to begin each half, had 11 points. Evan Smotrycz, who is working his way back into the rotation after suffering a foot injury earlier in the season finished the game with eight points, four rebounds and two assists. Richaud Pack snagged 10 rebounds for the Terps.
The Terps were efficient at the free throw line hitting 15-18 shots. They also connected from long distance, hitting 10 of 26 three pointers. Maryland also won the rebounding battle 38-32 and were 12-22 in the second half from two-point range.
The Cowboys were led by Le’Bryan Nash who had 17 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Anthony Hickey had 16 points and Forte added 13 points in a losing effort for the (9-2) Cowboys.
