Tuesday, December 28
College Park, Md.
8:30 p.m.
Lehigh University
1-10,0-0Patriot
55
at
76
Maryland
7-4,0-1Big Ten
1
2
F
Lehigh
34
21
55
Maryland
37
39
76
Photo by: Maryland Athletics
Maryland Creates Separation in Second Half to Down Lehigh, 76-55
12/28/2021 11:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Lehigh men's basketball team led for much of the early stages of Tuesday's game, and trailed by just three at the half, but Maryland began the second half on a 15-2 run, on its way to beating the Mountain Hawks, 76-55 at XFINITY Center. After a hectic few days surrounding the holiday, travel and the late addition of the game, Lehigh put forth a valiant effort, especially in the first half. Senior Jeameril Wilson led the offense with 17 points, along with five rebounds and two assists. Junior Evan Taylor added 14 points, 12 coming in the first half.
The Mountain Hawks were playing just their second game since Dec. 4 and with only one practice coming off Christmas. Many student-athletes had traveled long distances to get back to campus on Monday, then the team hit the road for College Park Monday evening.
"In the first half, we played an excellent brand of basketball," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "I was really pleased with our kids' effort. We took care of the ball, we got quality shots and we played with defensive intensity and toughness. Towards the end of the first half, Maryland tried to use their size advantage in the post, but I felt like our kids responded well and fought back to neutralize that part of the game as they closed out the first half.
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"In the second half, we failed to convert on open drives and open shots, like we had in the first half," Reed continued. "That, combined with Maryland's increased aggressiveness, limited our ability to stay in a really strong offensive flow. I also feel our ability to defend without fouling in the second half changed the complexion of the game. The game was called very tightly against our defense and it resulted in Maryland continuously living at the free throw line."
Wilson and Taylor combined for 22 of Lehigh's 34 first-half points, shooting a combined 9-of-14 from the field in the first 20 minutes. Senior Nic Lynch added a season-high 12 points for the game on 5-of-9 shooting.
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Lehigh turned the ball over just three times in the first half and 12 for the game, compared to eight for the Terrapins in the first half and 15 for the contest.
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"Our team did a better job for long periods of time taking care of the basketball," said Reed. "Our team members recognize the value of those lost possessions. I thought we really placed a premium on reducing our turnovers and it was in place for long periods of the game. There were small sections when we got a little bit loose with the ball, but for 40 minutes as a whole, it was an improvement from where we have been."
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Neither team led by more than two until Taylor knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Mountain Hawks a 15-12 advantage with 12:25 left in the first half. Maryland responded with four straight to take its first lead since 4-2.
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Lehigh immediately answered with four in a row, including a driving layup from first year Ben Knostman to give the Mountain Hawks a 19-16 lead.
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A 9-0 Maryland run in just over two minutes gave the Terps a 25-19 edge with 6:02 left in the first half. A few minutes later, seven straight Maryland points gave the Terps their first double-figure edge at 34-24 with 2:40 on the clock.
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Lehigh had an answer, though, as Taylor and Wilson scored all 10 Lehigh points in a 10-3 run to end the half. A Taylor 3-pointer in the final minute gave him 12 first-half points and pulled the Mountain Hawks within 37-34 after 20 minutes of play.
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Maryland began the second half on an 8-0 run to reopen a double-digit lead at 45-34. Taylor responded with a pair of free throws, but the Terps answered with seven in a row to extend its run to 15-2 coming out of the locker room.
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The Terrapins' lead reached 17 with 11:08 remaining, but Lynch caught fire, scoring six of Lehigh's eight points in an 8-2 run as his 3-pointer pulled the Mountain Hawks within 60-49 with 8:18 still remaining.
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Maryland erased much doubt with six straight points coming out of the under-8 media timeout, as it went on to the 76-55 victory.
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After shooting 45.2 percent in the first half, the Mountain Hawks were just 5-of-28 from the field in the second to finish at 32.2 percent for the game (19-of-59). Maryland shot 42.1 percent from the field (24-of-57). Each team struggled from 3-point range, with Lehigh at 22.7 percent (5-of-22) and the Terps knocking down 26.3 percent (5-of-19). Maryland held a 47-27 edge on the glass.
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Lehigh will return to action in less than 24 hours, as the Mountain Hawks host Eastern University at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets, please click here.
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Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
ÂGallery: (12-28-2021) Men's Basketball at Maryland, 12/28/21
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The Mountain Hawks were playing just their second game since Dec. 4 and with only one practice coming off Christmas. Many student-athletes had traveled long distances to get back to campus on Monday, then the team hit the road for College Park Monday evening.
"In the first half, we played an excellent brand of basketball," said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. "I was really pleased with our kids' effort. We took care of the ball, we got quality shots and we played with defensive intensity and toughness. Towards the end of the first half, Maryland tried to use their size advantage in the post, but I felt like our kids responded well and fought back to neutralize that part of the game as they closed out the first half.
Â
"In the second half, we failed to convert on open drives and open shots, like we had in the first half," Reed continued. "That, combined with Maryland's increased aggressiveness, limited our ability to stay in a really strong offensive flow. I also feel our ability to defend without fouling in the second half changed the complexion of the game. The game was called very tightly against our defense and it resulted in Maryland continuously living at the free throw line."
Wilson and Taylor combined for 22 of Lehigh's 34 first-half points, shooting a combined 9-of-14 from the field in the first 20 minutes. Senior Nic Lynch added a season-high 12 points for the game on 5-of-9 shooting.
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Lehigh turned the ball over just three times in the first half and 12 for the game, compared to eight for the Terrapins in the first half and 15 for the contest.
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"Our team did a better job for long periods of time taking care of the basketball," said Reed. "Our team members recognize the value of those lost possessions. I thought we really placed a premium on reducing our turnovers and it was in place for long periods of the game. There were small sections when we got a little bit loose with the ball, but for 40 minutes as a whole, it was an improvement from where we have been."
Â
Neither team led by more than two until Taylor knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Mountain Hawks a 15-12 advantage with 12:25 left in the first half. Maryland responded with four straight to take its first lead since 4-2.
Â
Lehigh immediately answered with four in a row, including a driving layup from first year Ben Knostman to give the Mountain Hawks a 19-16 lead.
Â
A 9-0 Maryland run in just over two minutes gave the Terps a 25-19 edge with 6:02 left in the first half. A few minutes later, seven straight Maryland points gave the Terps their first double-figure edge at 34-24 with 2:40 on the clock.
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Lehigh had an answer, though, as Taylor and Wilson scored all 10 Lehigh points in a 10-3 run to end the half. A Taylor 3-pointer in the final minute gave him 12 first-half points and pulled the Mountain Hawks within 37-34 after 20 minutes of play.
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Maryland began the second half on an 8-0 run to reopen a double-digit lead at 45-34. Taylor responded with a pair of free throws, but the Terps answered with seven in a row to extend its run to 15-2 coming out of the locker room.
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The Terrapins' lead reached 17 with 11:08 remaining, but Lynch caught fire, scoring six of Lehigh's eight points in an 8-2 run as his 3-pointer pulled the Mountain Hawks within 60-49 with 8:18 still remaining.
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Maryland erased much doubt with six straight points coming out of the under-8 media timeout, as it went on to the 76-55 victory.
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After shooting 45.2 percent in the first half, the Mountain Hawks were just 5-of-28 from the field in the second to finish at 32.2 percent for the game (19-of-59). Maryland shot 42.1 percent from the field (24-of-57). Each team struggled from 3-point range, with Lehigh at 22.7 percent (5-of-22) and the Terps knocking down 26.3 percent (5-of-19). Maryland held a 47-27 edge on the glass.
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Lehigh will return to action in less than 24 hours, as the Mountain Hawks host Eastern University at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets, please click here.
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Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
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Team Stats
Lehigh
MD
FG%
.322
.421
3FG%
.227
.263
FT%
.923
.885
RB
27
47
TO
12
15
STL
6
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
4
FGM
0
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
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