College Hoops

Stifling Defense, Reese Lead Terps To 71-51 Win

Stifling Defense, Reese Lead Terps To 71-51 Win


COLLEGE PARK, MD — Behind a suffocating defensive effort and a career-night from Julian Reese, the Terps routed Western Carolina 71-51 on Thursday night at XFINITY Center. 

Reese set personal bests in points (19), rebounds (eight), and made field goals (seven). He also notched the first double-double of his career. 

Jahmir Young added 16 points and has reached double-figures in each of his first two games as a Terp. He also grabbed five boards. 

Maryland employed a stifiling defense to set the tone early, giving the Terps a 32-15 halftime lead. Western Carolina shot just 20 percent from the field in the opening period and coughed it up 10 times. The Terps got 12 points off those turnovers, including multiple run-out dunks. The Catamounts’ 15 points were the fewest the Terps had allowed in a half since they only surrendered 14 points in the first half against Michigan State on Dec. 30, 2014. It was also the fewest allowed at home at Comcast/XFINITY Center since Dec. 28, 2005, when Delaware State was held to 13 points.

The Terps extended their lead further in the second half behind increased offensive production. They shot 50 percent in the final 20 minutes and got 13 fastbreak points. 

Breaking Down The Action

  • Reese scored 10 of Maryland’s first 14 points as the Terps jumped out to an early 14-8 lead. 
  • The Terps went into halftime leading 32-15 thanks to a dominant defensive effort. They held the Catamounts to just 6-of-30 shooting, forced 10 turnovers, and held Western Carolina to two separate scoring droughts of at least four minutes. 
  • Maryland steadily built its lead in the second half behind nine more points from Reese and a couple of timely threes. 

Dominant Defense

  • The Terps allowed just 15 points in the first half of action, the fewest points they have allowed in a half since they gave up just 14 points in the first half on Dec. 30, 2014 at Michigan State. That was the Terps first-ever Big Ten win after joining the conference, taking a 68-66 victory in double overtime. 
  • It was also Maryland’s best defensive effort at home in a first half since holding Delaware State to just 13 points on Dec. 28, 2005 in a 68-54 victory. 
  • For the second game in a row, the Terps were stingy defensively. Against WCU, Maryland forced 17 turnovers which it converted into 22 points [+XX against the…

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