Maryland escaped Thursday night with a narrow win over George Washington on a cold shooting night, but in the end, it was point guard Fatts Russell who had his first clutch moment as a Terp. Turgeon said postgame the play was initially for either Qudus Wahab or Eric Ayala to make a play, but when that didn’t work, they turned to their experienced ball-handler.
"We ran a two-man game with Eric and [Wahab]. We were trying to get a post-up for [Wahab], or Eric getting in the lane and making plays for everybody else and it just didn't work. So we're all yelling, ‘throw it to Fatts,’” Turgeon said after the game. With just under 50 seconds remaining, Russell hit a stepback three to push the Terps’ lead to six as Maryland inched closer to their second win. On a night where Maryland shot just 3-of-20 from beyond the perimeter, the team knew who they could turn to down the stretch.
“We haven't worked on a lot of late-game, late-clock situations yet. We just haven't. I like using the games to get better, so we added some things during the game to help us, but he felt comfortable. He’s made that shot his whole life and we're up three. I liked it.”
Russell was one of three Terps to finish in double-figures in the 71-64 win, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds, and a pair of steals. Despite shooting just 5-of-15 from the field, Ayala finished with 11 points and three rebounds but also accounted for five of Maryland's 13 turnovers. Despite the off-night, Turgeon saw positives in his leader’s showing.
“I thought he stayed positive, he kept trying to guard. He made some mistakes. He left [Adams] on a penetration, can't do that because he's a good shooter, but I just think he stayed positive.” But the alpha dog of the night was undoubtedly starting center Qudus Wahab, finishing with 18 points and 15 rebounds just two days after posting 17 points and 17 rebounds in the win over Quinnipiac. Wahab became the first Maryland to post at least 15 points in his first two games since Steve Francis in 1998, but also proved to be a force on the block through the second half. Turgeon still sees room for improvement, but for the second straight game, Wahab has proven to be an integral piece to the Terps’ recipe for success.
“He really changed the game with his offensive rebound at the start of the second half, and not only got the offensive rebound but it was hard to finish because they're in there just reaching and grabbing and doing things. They’re really quick and very active with their hands and for him to finish, I thought was great. There's some things we're still working on with him, but it's good to score baskets around the rim. He's really good at it. I felt like he had of a lot of big rebounds. Didn't protect the rim like I want him to and he will in time, but we're still getting there.”
While Wahab squared off on the block, Maryland struggled to contain George Washington guard Joe Bamisile as he finished with 20 points, including 16 in the first half on 8-of-13 shooting. “We put [Xavier Green] on him. Xavier gave us really good minutes in the second half, guarded him. He missed some ones in the second half that he was making in the first half, so could have been fatigue, early season, guys aren't in great shape right now. They're in good shape, but they're not in great shape. You're in good practice shape, but the game is just totally different.”
While Bamisile had the attention of the Terps’ in the end, one former Terp who made his return back to Xfinity was forward Ricky Lindo Jr., who finished with 13 points and nine rebounds in 34 minutes. Lindo and Turgeon reunited on the court shortly after the game as the two embraced each other, shortly before Turgeon pointed up to the Terps’ 2020 Big Ten Championship banner. “Ricky played terrific, hit the step- back 3 out there, which is really cool against really great defense. Happy to have a Big Ten champ back in the building tonight."
With the 71-64 win in the books, Maryland will prepare for another quick turnaround as they will host Vermont on Saturday for a 2 P.M. tipoff.