Story By: Andrew Lang
File Photos By: Sol Tucker
College Park, MD–
There is something to be said about having a home court advantage and clearly the Terps have just that as the soared late in the second half and into overtime against Penn State in route to an 81-75 victory and their 16th straight home victory.
Julian Reese (a career-high tying 24 points,15 rebounds) had his fifth double-double of the season and fourth in the last five games. Jahmir Young added 28 points and eight rebounds and was a perfect 12-for-12 at the line. Jamie Kaiser Jr. scored a career-high 10 points, including a pair of triples.
Penn State led the entire first half before battling it out with the Terrapins in the second half and into overtime.
The major difference for the Terps in this game was the A 13-5 run that put them back out in front, 50-49, at the 7:39 mark of the second half.
Ace Baldwin Jr. converted a pair of clutch free throws for Penn State to tie the game at 71. Maryland was unable to convert the final shot of regulation as the game entered overtime.
DeShawn Harris-Smith put the final dagger into the Nittany Lions when knocked down perhaps his toughest shot of the night a and one in the paint with 29.5 seconds left to put Maryland ahead 79-75.
Maryland held Penn State to 0-of-8 field goals in overtime.
After the game Terps Head Coach Kevin Willard spoke about the emergence of Harris-Smith.
“I’m more excited about those two (DeShawn and Jamie Kaiser) now than I was when they first committed. Their work ethic, their effort, their attitude. Jamie’s energy was awesome. DeShawn had to defend Ace Baldwin Jr. all night. That’s not an easy thing to do as a freshman. They’re both working hard, they’re both doing really good things,” said Willard.
