Instant reactions: Maryland humbled by George Mason, fall 71-66 at home

Maryland dropped their first game of the 2021-22 season as we break down our instant reactions…

Quick start…Contrary to the first three games, Maryland opened the game clicking on all cylinders as they hit three of their first four shots from the field which included consecutive threes. Eric. Ayala and Donta Scott hit the first two buckets from the perimeter as Maryland knocked down three of their first four shots to help Maryland build a 10-3 lead heading into the first TV timeout. Defensively, George Mason worked to make it tough for Maryland in the paint as Maryland center Qudus Wahab dealt with double-teams off the block but the Terps’ big man was able to find success on both ends matched up against Josh Oduro. Maryland tacked on another two points and with a 14-5 lead five minutes into the game, it was once again Julian Reese, Ian Martinez, and Xavier Green who were the first three to check-in. With Maryland controlling the game through the opening minutes, it was after the first TV timeout when the Terps saw the game gradually slip away as Mason went on a 19-8 run, including a 10-0 run in the final 3:03, leading into the under-8 TV timeout. Five offensive turnovers during the 19-8 run didn’t make matters any easier as George Mason converted the opportunities into nine points. Josh Oduro commanded the bulk of Maryland’s defensive attention heading into the matchup, but it was D’Shawn Schwartz who was the standout through the first twenty minutes as he finished with 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting. Guard DeVon Cooper also found his touch with a pair of contested jumpers to help Mason enter halftime with a 32-31 lead. George Mason was only able to grow their lead out to as much as four as the Terps' improved three-point touch helped keep the game close through the first 20 minutes, but while Maryland hit five of their last seven attempts from the field, Maryland also left points on the table after missing all four attempts from the free-throw line.

Scott gets hot…Maryland fans have seen Eric Ayala, Qudus Wahab and Fatts Russell shine at times through the first three games but on Wednesday night, it was Donta Scott’s night as he started a perfect 5-for-5 through the first half and led with a game-high 13 points as he enjoyed a smooth shooting touch from inside and outside the arc. Scott was responsible for three of the Terps’ seven first-half turnovers, but with Qudus Wahab matched up against Josh Oduro on the night, Scott took advantage of the chances presented to him. The junior cooled off in the second-half, though, and shot just 2-of-7 from the field in a half he played all but two points. A couple of late threes allowed Ayala to become the only double-digit scorer in the second-half.

Inconsistency through the second half…with just a one-point deficit at the half, George Mason opened the second-half on a 16-7 run and pushed their lead to as much as ten points as Maryland’s offense opened the half rather stagnant. The Terps hit just four of their first 14 shots as the offense appeared rushed, settling for contested jumpers at times, just as George Mason settled into its groove. After George Mason built a ten-point lead, Maryland switched to a 2-3 zone to disrupt George Mason’s flow just as Ian Martinez and Xavier Green checked into the game. After Martinez hit a jumper at the top of the key, Xavier Green finished an impressive reverse layup to cut the lead to five with just over nine minutes left in the game, but another triple from George Mason guard D’Shawn Schwartz pushed the lead back to nine to quiet the crowd. The back-and-forth was evidence of what fans saw through the final twenty minutes as George Mason seemingly had an answer for every Maryland bucket, maintaining a healthy single-digit lead. But it was none other than Donta Scott who converted a critical and-one opportunity with just over six minutes left to cut the lead to six. With the Terps in the bonus, Julian Reese got back to the line and knocked down three of his four free-throw attempts on consecutive possessions to cut the lead to 59-56 with just over four minutes remaining. While Maryland gradually cut it into the lead, it was once again the defense that helped the Terps dig into the lead in the final minutes but just when Maryland was on the edge of retaking the lead, a questionable foul called on Ian Martinez gave George Mason possession just prior to the under-four TV timout as they capitalized with a jumper in the paint. The dagger came 40 seconds later when Schwartz scored his 24th point of the night, pushing the lead to 64-56 with just over three minutes remaining. After a timeout, it was Ayala who immediately knocked down a triple for just his second basket of the half just one minute before Ian Martinez split a pair of free-throw attempts to cut the lead back down to five. Then it was Ayala’s turn to hit a clutch three, cutting the lead to 65-63 with 90 seconds remaining. After Oduro hit a tough turnaround three, it was Ayala again hitting a triple to cut the deficit to 67-66 with just 57 seconds left. After a full timeout, George Mason turned to Oduro in the paint to push it to three to give Maryland one more chance, but Ayala couldn’t find the bottom of the net as his triple fell short and a quick foul sent George Mason to the line.

Next: Maryland hosts Hofstra on Friday for a 6:30 PM tipoff.