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Second-half run costs VMI in 95-77 loss at Maryland

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vmi_logo2The Maryland Terrapins used a 13-0 run early in the second half to break open a tight game, and go on to a 95-77 victory over the VMI Keydets in non-conference action Sunday night at the XFINITY Center in College Park, Md.

The Keydets were down only two, 55-53, after a Tim Marshall three-pointer with 16:17 to go, but Dion Wiley answered with six straight points to spark the game-breaking 13-0 run that pushed the home team’s edge to 15, 68-53, with 12:11 on the clock. VMI got back within 11 on two occasions, but could get no closer the rest of the way.

Craig Hinton led the Keydets (2-4) with a career-high 23 points in the setback, going 6 of 6 from three-point range to tie a Keydet record for percentage accomplished only twice since 1989. Meanwhile, Maryland (7-0) put five players in double figures, led by Richaud Pack’s 22 points. Wiley added 19 markers for the Terrapins, 17 of which came in the decisive second half.

Maryland sprinted out to the lead early, as the home team started the game on a 10-2 run. The Keydets held fast and, after tying the score multiple times, took their first lead, 37-36, on a Phillip Anglade dunk with 3:32 left in the opening half.

QJ Peterson hit two free throws on VMI’s next trip to bump that lead to three, but Maryland finished the half on a 10-3 run that included eight points by Pack and took a 49-45 lead into the locker room.

The Keydets had been buoyed by Hinton’s 15 points and Peterson’s 12 markers over the first 20 minutes, while also making eight first half three-pointers to help their efforts.

The teams traded scores to open the second half, as after a Peterson hoop cut the margin to two, Damonte Dodd opened it back up to four, 51-47. Julian Eleby answered with a three-pointer, however, and the Keydets were back within one.

After four straight Terrapin points, Marshall hit the three-pointer that made it a two-point game and seemed to spark the home team. Just over four minutes later, Jake Layman hit a three-pointer to cap the run and make it 68-53, UMD.

The Keydets closed to within 11 for the final time with 3:27 to go, doing so after a pair of Eleby free throws, but Maryland finished off its win by scoring nine of the game’s last 11 points en route to victory.

VMI finished the game 30 of 76 from the floor (39.5%), but only shot 33.3% in the second half. More importantly, a first half 8 of 22 (36.4%) from three-point range fell off to a 4 of 20 (20%) second half effort for the visitors.

The Terrapins, meanwhile, finished things out 37 of 64 (57.8%), a rate that was much higher (67.9%) in the second half. Maryland made 3 of its 12 three-point attempts.

Maryland held a 66-30 edge in points in the paint, while the Keydets got 48 of their 77 markers from their reserves, sparked by Hinton’s career-best night. The Keydets also forced 20 turnovers in the contest.

VMI played without starting guard Brian Brown, who did not make the trip for personal reasons but is expected to return later in the week. Christian Burton made the first start of his career.

VMI basketball will return to action Tuesday, as the Keydets play just one of two home games during the month of December. VMI will play host to Mid-Atlantic Christian at Cameron Hall, and tip time is set for 7 p.m.

 

QUOTES – VMI Head Coach Duggar Baucom
“I thought the first half was way better than the second half. I was certainly proud of the way the guys competed. Maryland made a few adjustments in the second half. They really got out and guarded us in the second half. The looks we were getting in the second half were not the same we were getting in the first half. They did a good job crowding the line.”

“We turned them over more than they did us, and I was proud of that but we still had way too many.”

“The effort was good tonight. Sometimes the execution wasn’t.”

“Craig (Hinton) has been shooting at a really high level. If we could just get some of the other guys to step up a little bit. Somebody has got to step and help.”

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