Maryland men's basketball falls to .500 after home loss vs. Oregon

Ahmed Ghafir
5 days ago
3 min read

Despite remaining within striking distance for much of the night, Maryland men’s basketball led for just 56 seconds on Friday night en route to a 57-48 loss vs. Oregon.

The loss moves Maryland to 7-7 overall, the program’s worst record through the first 14 games since also starting 7-7 in 1991-92. The 0-3 conference record marks the first time since 2021-22 and second time since joining the Big Ten that Maryland went winless in its first three conference matchups.

Solomon Washington finished with a season-high 17 points, one of two players to finish in double figures scoring alongside Isaiah Watts.

Oregon would open the scoring after an and-one on a made three, then Kwame Evans’ layup, opened an early 6-0 lead before Maryland countered with a 7-0 en route to its first lead ahead of the first media timeout.

A 9-0 Oregon run would quiet the half-filled Xfinity Center after center Nate Bittle accounted for five points during the stretch with Isaiah Watts - who led the team in scoring to that point - on the bench with a pair of fouls.

With Oregon still hanging onto a lead with Maryland ahead for all of 56 seconds on Friday night, Solomon Washington and Diggy Coit would team up to give Maryland its seemingly once source of offense over the final seven minutes, combining for 12 of the team’s final 15 points, but it wasn’t enough to mask what once again proved to be a stagnant halfcourt offense with head coach Buzz Williams’ team adjusting to life without Pharrel Payne.

Oregon, however, would have an answer at seemingly every brief Maryland punch to push back on a one-possession game, eventually taking a 34-27 lead over Maryland into halftime with the Terps held without a bucket over the final 2:36.

Maryland would attempt to jumpstart its offense in the second half by capitalizing in transition, pushing the ball quickly in an attempt to catch Oregon out of position in transition, but the Ducks were routinely there to meet Maryland with the Terps then turning to hero ball. Maryland would try to stay aggressive in an attempt to draw contact and free throw opportunities, but it instead led to Oregon setting a new season-high with seven blocks while holding Maryland to 27% shooting, its worst shooting performance since the Big Ten opener vs. Iowa.

Oregon also outscored Maryland, 32-12, inside in the second time in the last three games that Maryland has been outscored by 20 or more in the paint.

Still, a three from Elijah Saunders on the first play out of the U-12 media timeout in the second half would tie the game at 43, but briefly. And it would be the closest that Maryland would get the rest of the night.

Maryland struggled to slow Oregon during an 8-2 run while the Ducks extended their lead to eight points with four minutes remaining and by as many as 13 inside the final minute of regulation.

Maryland will now look to avoid falling below .500 when they host Indiana on Wednesday night, looking to avoid its first 0-4 start in conference play since the 2021-22 season when the program finished below .500 overall.

Related Links