After suffering through a first half of basketball that set the game back 100 years no one had an idea of what we were about to witness coming up. Certainly no one expected a heart throbbing double overtime win for our young Terps in their very first ever Big Ten game. When asked to describe the first half Dukie Vitale answered “ UGLY, UGLY, UGLY “ and for once I had to agree with him. Michigan State jumped out to an early 4 to 2 lead and then the Terps went on a nice 7 to 0 run and it was 9 to 4 Terps with 14:00 left. At this point it got double ugly as both teams began missing shots and turning the ball over on just about every possession. In a horrific six minute stretch each team managed just one bucket and with 8 minutes to go it was 11 to 6 Terps. Trimble is invisable, Wells is forcing shots, offensively both teams are stinking the joint out. Brick city and unable to throw the ball in the ocean says Dukie Vitale. With 3:25 to go Smotryz hit a bucket to make it 13 to 6 Terps. With 50 ticks left on the clock Wells backs in and hits a turn around basket and it’s 17 to 11 Terps, Spartans nail a three, Terps hold for last shot, miss three attempts and the half thankfully ends 17 to 14 Terps. Not at all pretty but we at least have a lead. Considering how ragged and physical the first half had been the Terrapins had not made it to the foul line even one time ??? Trimble is scoreless and Layman has only a bucket, only one player has more and that is Graham with two. Defense has been good and effort is there. Is it stage fright, jitters or just one of those want to forget first halves?
Compared to the first half the second was a real barn burner. Three minutes in and the Terps still had a 21 to 20 lead, 2 free throws and a trey and Michigan State had a 25 to 21 lead. After 25 minutes of playing time the Terrapins have yet to get to the free throw line, one of their strong points so far in this season. Trimble is fouled in the act of shooting and finally we get to the line, makes 2 and it’s 25 to 23 with 15:00 left. Smotryz is rebounding well and Trimble is driving to the hoop but coming up empty. A bucket Spartans and a fade away bucket Smotryz, 13:00 to go and Spartans lead 27 to 23. With 12:00 to go following a bucket and a free throw by Trimble it’s still 29 to 28 Spartans and at the 11:00 mark Spartans still have a 31 to 28 lead. A bucket Dodd and 2 freebies Pack Terps get the lead 32 to 31 with 8;40 to go. Well turns the ball over, Smotrcyz fouls, Wells travels 16 turnovers Terps, Wells misses and during this mess Spartans manage to score just once and with 6:04 to go leads 33 to 32. With 4:17 to go following a trey by the Spartans they lead 40 to 35, 3:12 left 41 to 37 Spartans, three Smotryz with 2:56 to go and it’s 41 to 40 Spartans. Smotryz fouls out, 2 freebies Spartans, 43 to 40 Spartans, 2:37 to go. Two freebies Trimble and a bucket Dodd, 44 to 43 Terps, 1:37 left. After a Terp time out a steal and a bucket Spartans and it’s 45 to 44 Spartans. A free throw Trimble ties it at 45 all with 41.8 to go. Two freebies 47 to 45 Spartans with 36 ticks left. Wells misses, Trimble shoots a long three and misses, now 0 for 6 from long range. Spartans make I of 2 free throws and lead 48 to 45 with 11.6 to go. Dukie Vitale says you should foul in this situation but Spartans decide not to. With 2.2 ticks left Wells hits a contested three and we are headed for over time at 48 all
Spartans score, 50 to 48 Spartans lead, Layman misses two free throws but Trimble nails a trey, 51 to 50 Terps 3:07 left. With 2:07 to go Spartans lead 54 to 51. Tech called on Turgeon for arguing a foul call and Spartans make 1 of 2, 55 to 51 Spartans, 1:52 to go. Graham scores and Wells hits 2 freebies and we are tied at 55 and headed for our second overtime.
Free throw Graham, bucket Spartans, 57 to 56 Spartans. Two free throws Wells, Steal and slam Wells, 60 to 57 Terps, 2 freebies Spartans and 2 free throws Trimble and 2 free throws Pack 64 to 59 Terps, 35.9 to go. Two freebies Spartans and 2 freebies Trimble and Terps lead 66 to 61 25.8 to go. Two free throws Spartans, 2 more freebies Trimble and a last second trey Spartans and the Terps win a marathon 68 to 66 stunning the Spartan crowd and in all probability the entire BIG TEN.
The Terps are a never say die hard nosed group and as Dukie Vitale said in his pregame remarks “ The biggest surprise in college basketball
“. “ They are legit “. He also promoted Coach Lefty Driesel for the College Hall of Fame. I am liking Dukie Vitale more and more. Chris Knoche called it “ A beautiful UGLY win “ AMEN. We are 11th in one poll and 12th in the other. Just maybe we will climb a little higher.
Hard to believe, we went 25 minutes without getting to the free throw line and went to the free throw line 32 times in the last 25 minutes making 26. Trimble scoreless in the first half finished with 17 points, Layman finished with only 4 points but contributed 9 rebounds. Dodd finished with 4 and possibly had the play of the game when inserted into the lineup and blocking a shot by the Spartan big man, running the floor, getting the offensive rebound and finishing off the play with a baby hook for two. Wells who is a version of Superman finished with 16 points, 5 for 6 from the stripe and 7 boards. Pack another great effort with 9 points, and 6 for 6 from the stripe. Smotrycz had 9 points in another great showing. Checko a slam for 2 and Graham in a tremendous outing had 7 points.
A great weekend for the Lady Terps who handled the Ohio State ladies last evening and the men Terps doing the same today though it took a story book ending to do it. LOVE ALL MY TERPS !!! HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
Taters, Terpman 2
No comments have been posted yet, be the first!
Post a comment by filling out the form below.
