The Terps are 0-4 on the road this season.
Maryland men’s basketball experienced its first taste of overtime basketball Thursday at Northwestern, and the result was heartbreaking.
With 0.7 seconds left in the extra period, Wildcats forward Nick Martinelli rotated from the top of the key to the baseline before sinking a game-winning jumper off an inbounds play to win the game, 76-74, and send Welsh-Ryan Arena into a frenzy.
The Terps struggled in overtime, shooting just 2-of-6 from the field and 0-of-2 from 3-point range.
Maryland also stumbled out of the gate, committing three sloppy turnovers in the first three and a half minutes. Its execution was lacking around the rim, as missed opportunities by Derik Queen and Julian Reese added to the sluggish start.
Northwestern didn’t capitalize, though. Its offense struggled early, plagued by a traveling violation and three missed 3-pointers. The Wildcats managed just 10 points in the first eight minutes, enduring a nearly three-minute scoring drought.
Looking to inject some energy, head coach Kevin Willard turned to forward Tafara Gapare off the bench. Gapare immediately made an impact, draining two quick 3-pointers. His ability to stretch the floor has been crucial for the Terps lately, and Thursday’s game was no exception. He finished with nine points and a rebound.
Maryland clung to a narrow three-point lead midway through the first half. Both offenses found their rhythm, each shooting 50% or better from the field, but Maryland’s seven turnovers in the first 11 minutes loomed large. The seventh was particularly costly — it led to a fast-break and-1 by Northwestern’s Angelo Ciaravino, tying the game at 19-19.
Queen couldn’t replicate his dominant 27-point performance Monday against Minnesota. The 6-foot-10 freshman struggled early, picking up two personal fouls in the first 13 minutes and shooting just 1 for 3 from the field in that span. He finished the game with nine points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field, 14 rebounds and five turnovers.
Northwestern’s Ty Berry put together an 8-0 solo run late in the half, draining two 3-pointers to give the Wildcats a slim two-point edge with nearly three minutes remaining. But Maryland stayed aggressive, consistently attacking the basket. This approach led to a pileup of fouls for Northwestern, as the Wildcats committed 11 in the first half. The Terps took advantage, nailing all 11 of their free-throw attempts, eight of which came from Reese.
Despite Maryland’s success at the line, Northwestern held a narrow 38-37 lead at the break.
The Terps started exceptionally poor from the field in the second half, shooting just 2-of-8 in the first three minutes, but still led, 44-42. Martinelli was aggressive for the Wildcats, driving to the hoop and initiating contact around the rim, scoring six points early in the half.
Maryland grabbed five offensive rebounds in the first five minutes of the half, but it led to just three second-chance points. Queen and Ja’Kobi Gillespie shot a combined 2-of-6 in that span, with Queen forcing another bad pass that led to a turnover.
In the following minutes, Northwestern built a 10-point lead with a decisive 13-0 run while Maryland struggled offensively, missing seven consecutive field goal attempts.
A Rodney Rice 3-pointer finally ended the Terps’ scoring drought, but the five-and-a-half-minute stretch without a single point had already taken its toll.
Still, Maryland showed resilience. A 10-2 run brought the Terps within two points with 6:20 remaining. With Queen in foul trouble and struggling, Willard turned to a small-ball lineup, briefly slotting Selton Miguel in as the power forward.
But no matter the combination, Maryland simply couldn’t hit pay dirt. Another scoreless drought — this time just over three minutes — had to once again be answered by a Rice 3-pointer, bringing the Terps back within six points with 3:30 left.
Then, a sudden 9-2 Maryland run took place, setting it up to either tie or take the lead with under a minute remaining.
Despite the Terps being stripped twice near the bucket, a missed free throw by Brooks Barnhizer on the subsequent possession allowed Gillespie to notch the tying basket with six seconds left, propelling the contest to overtime.
In the extra period, the game’s frenetic pace of play was as evident as ever. Gillespie once again knotted the score with six seconds left before Martinelli’s heroics ended the night in dramatic fashion.
Three things to know
1. Giveaway issues. The Terps were uncharacteristically sloppy with the ball at multiple junctures Thursday. They committed 16 turnovers to Northwestern’s 13, including a team-high five by Queen.
2. Reese put on a show. The senior forward attacked the rim Thursday, and while he went just 5 for 13 from the field, he made 13 of his 14 free-throw attempts — especially impressive for a player that’s struggled at the line throughout his career. He finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
3. Road woes remain. Heading into the night, Maryland was yet to win a game as the away opponent. Thursday’s loss made their road record 0-4, with Willard and his squad desperately searching for answers.