Redbirds’ upset bid of No. 2 Maryland falls short

I know next season, the two teams will play at Georgetown’s home at the Verizon Center, and after that, we will see how things play out.

Despite an aggressive, ball hawking attack on defense and a fast pace that had the No. 2-ranked Maryland Terrapins on their heels, the IL State University basketball team’s upset bid fell short, 77-66, Tuesday night in the Cancun Challenge. The Terps trailed by five in the second half of Tuesday’s game, but as in recent wins over Georgetown and Rider, they made all the necessary plays to pull out the win. I am sure the fans will pick out a team to be a rival like Duke when we were in the ACC, just give them time.

Maryland was led but Rasheed Sulaimon’s 18 points. Plus, we have played MI State for a number of years before we became part of the Big Ten.

Maryland’s Jake Layman, left, scores as Rider’s Xavier Lundy defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, November 20, 2015, in College Park, Md.

“We don’t win the game without him”, Turgeon said. They shot 49.2 percent in Sunday’s 72-56 win against Houston Baptist, and also excelled defensively, limiting the Huskies to 35.3 percent shooting while forcing 23 turnovers. “We’re getting better at those kind of games”.

A majority of the second half was a back-and-forth affair, including four lead changes.

Layman had 11 points and 11 rebounds, Robert Carter Jr. scored 13 and Stone added 12, including eight in a 15-3 spurt that got the Terps to 46-44. The junior guard from Maywood has a game high of 11-points through the first half.

Turgeon complimented Lee’s effort and then highlighted his own guard play, with Trimble and Sulaimon providing calm and composure when the team was in trouble.

The Redbirds used an 8-2 run to take a 54-52 lead, which was capped after guard DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell sliced through Maryland’s entire defense for a layup with 7 minutes 46 seconds remaining.

The Redbirds were able to keep the game within five points for the majority of the game, actually leading for a chunk of it. Two huge three pointers from Maryland down the stretch were the daggers in the Redbirds’ heart. The Terrapins block nine shots. They will then face the victor of Rhode Island and TCU, two teams which could possibly provide a stout challenge for a Maryland team that has shown chinks in their armor.

But these are the things that will go unnoticed this season outside the Valley, where IL State is still expected to make some noise, despite a 2-3 record.