https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IQvitEVICUc&feature=youtu.be Despite a furious second-half comeback attempt, Maryland basketball was unable to win its fifth-straight Big Ten game, falling to Michigan State, 63-58, in East Lansing on Tuesday. After Saturday's dominant 35-point thumping of Minnesota gave Maryland its first Big Ten road win of the season, the Terps entered Tuesday's matchup seeking their second in as many games. Maryland has not won two consecutive Big Ten road games since defeating the Spartans on Feb. 15, 2020. Tuesday's game began eerily similar to the last time Maryland played a Big Ten game in the state of Michigan, with the Terps failing to score in the opening minutes and finding themselves in a double-digit hole early. On Jan. 1, Maryland fell behind 17-0 to Michigan and its performance forced head coach Kevin Willard to "wave the white flag" in the loss. On Tuesday, the Terps found themselves down 15 points before scoring against the Spartans. "The start is my fault," Willard said. "This is our fifth day on the road and we practiced terribly yesterday, ... I thought our practice yesterday was a result of how we started." Maryland mustered only 22 first-half points, tying its fourth-worst shooting percentage of the season at just under 31%. The Terps shot 2-13 from three-point range in the first 20 minutes. "I thought we took four really bad shots," Willard said about Maryland's shooting struggles. "I thought we took four quick threes that led to some of their early buckets, ... being on the road sometimes, a very good environment, sometimes you kind of get sucked into that." Senior guard Jahmir Young and sophomore big Julian Reese did their best to allow the Terps to hang around, combining for 15 of their 22 first half points. Trailing 16-6, Young rattled off seven straight points as Maryland cut into the deficit. Michigan State took a 31-22 lead into the halftime break. When the three-pointers continued to not fall in the second half, Maryland turned to what had won it seven games in the Big Ten this season: its defense. After a Joey Hauser jumper gave Michigan State a 38-26 lead, Maryland used a defense-oriented 14-0 run to take a two-point lead, stealing all of the momentum from the Spartans. Maryland forced consecutive turnovers and began running in transition, including back-to-back and-one layups by Young and senior guard Hakim Hart and a two-handed slam by Donta Scott, to begin clawing its way back. A Hart three knotted the game at 38. "I thought the defensive intensity was pretty good," Willard said. "Even when we got down 15-0, I still thought we came out defensively okay, I just thought we came out offensively very lethargic." The teams traded baskets for the ensuing minutes, but free throws by Hart and a transition layup by Young gave the Terps a 48-44 lead. This lead was short-lasting, as Michigan State then used a quick 8-0 run to go ahead 52-48 and take the lead for good. Despite shooting 3-22 from three-point range, Willard thought that six-minute stretch was the story of the game. "I think we left Hauser , he made a three," Willard noted. "We came down, had a good drive but didn't get the foul call. ... I think Tyson Walker is playing as good as any guard in the league, he made a big three in transition. I thought that stretch we gave them a couple easy shots, they made them and then we missed a couple shots." Maryland outscored Michigan State 30-14 in the paint, but its poor three-point shooting hindered any chance to pull away offensively. Four Terps scored in double-figures, including Young (17 points), who has now done so in 10 consecutive games. Maryland is scheduled to return home to face Penn State on Saturday in College Park. Related Links Instant reactions: Maryland 58, Michigan State 63 Mike Locksley responds to Nick Saban’s comments on Jalen Hurts Preview: Maryland basketball looks to stay hot vs. Michigan State Inside the Bag: one-on-one with TBIAF Four-star WR getting comfortable with Maryland, impressed with facilities (+) Maryland entrenched in NCAA Tournament projections, receives votes in AP Poll Maryland in pursuit of DeMatha linemen (+) Maryland jumps in for four-star OT on the west coast (+) Film breakdown: Maryland WR Kaden Prather
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