Inability to sustain lead becoming the norm
Terps frustrated by failure to make plays late in games during Big Ten slump
COLLEGE PARK — In each of Maryland’s recent losses, the Terps seemed to have things under control — until they didn’t.
At Ohio State on Jan. 11, Maryland built an early seven-point lead, prompting first-year Buckeyes coach Chris Holtmann to call timeout with a little over 10 minutes left in the first half. The Terps were then outscored 22-2 in less than seven minutes and never challenged again in a 91-69 loss.
At Michigan four days later, Maryland stormed to a 14-point lead late in the first half and was able to withstand the No. 23 Wolverines eventually tying the game early in the second half. But after overcoming their own10-point deficit, the Terps lost, 68-67, when their defense collapsed in the final seconds after sophomore guard Kevin Huerter’s goahead 3-pointer.
At Indiana on Jan. 22, Maryland held a Maryland’s Kevin Huerter, defended by Michigan State’s Joshua Langford during Sunday’s loss, said the Terps are “making the same mistakes” at the end of games. five-point lead with a little under five minutes left. The lead was frittered away in 40 seconds, as forward Juwan Morgan took over the game. His putback off two missed free throws by Josh Newkirk with 36.6 seconds left put the Hoosiers up three in what became a 71-68 loss for the Terps.
And at Xfinity Center on Sunday, Maryland made the first sellout crowd of the season giddy when it took a 13-point