This winter, few men’s basketball teams in the Big Ten Conference have faced as many challenges as the Maryland Terrapins. The Minnesota Golden Gophers were among them, but Maryland seized the opportunity.
With just 26 seconds remaining, David Coit executed a step-back three-pointer from the left elbow, followed by four crucial free throws in the last 11.5 seconds, enabling Maryland to secure a surprising 67-62 win on Sunday afternoon. The game took place before an audience of 8,559 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.
Both teams entered the game hungry for a much-needed victory, with Maryland struggling at 2-8 over their last ten games and Minnesota 3-7 within that same stretch.
Coit shone particularly bright, accounting for 20 of his game-leading 29 points in the second half, including nine points in the final 83 seconds. In fact, all of those second-half points came during the last 13:09, as he outscored the Golden Gophers by one point.
“These past few weeks have been tough for me, not just on the court,” Coit expressed to the Big Ten Network after his pivotal performance. “It’s been challenging mentally off the court, and I’m grateful for my teammates and the support I’ve received. I wanted the ball and wasn’t going to be selfish, but Coach [Buzz Williams] designed a great play that we’ve been working on, and it all came together. [Senior center] Collin [Metcalf] set an excellent screen, I faked a shot like I practiced with Coach Seth [Allen], and it worked out.”
Besides Coit, redshirt freshman Andre Mills contributed with 12 points, while freshman Darius Adams added 11 points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals. Their collective efforts helped the Terps improve to 9-14 overall and 2-10 in the Big Ten, putting an end to a four-game losing streak and marking their first road win in conference play.
“I’m incredibly grateful,” Williams stated on the Maryland Sports Radio Network. “The resilience shown by our players today is evident in the score. I have tremendous respect for their ability to keep fighting through challenges. It’s tough to overcome when the opponent makes 14 three-pointers, especially on the road, but today was a testament to their tenacity and unity, and I’m thrilled with the outcome.”
Sophomore Isaac Asuma led the Golden Gophers (11-13, 4-9) with 18 points, making 6 of 9 from beyond the arc. He supplemented his scoring with four assists, three rebounds, and three steals. Senior Cade Tyson contributed 12 points and three rebounds, and senior Langston Reynolds added 11 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Unfortunately for Minnesota, they couldn’t replicate the success of their stunning 76-73 upset against No. 10 Michigan State earlier in the week.
How Critical is Coit to Maryland’s Success?
Seriously, where would Maryland be without the Kansas transfer? Coit rescued the team from a potential setback against Mount St. Mary’s on November 19 with his 41-point outburst, and a career-high 43 points helped Maryland claim its first Big Ten win of the season against Penn State on January 18.
Coit has faced his own challenges, particularly following a previous outing where he scored just nine points with four turnovers during an 82-62 loss to Ohio State. Following that game, Coach Williams called him out, addressing his attitude and urging him to improve.
“The coach challenged me after the last game,” Coit recalled. “He pointed out my selfish behavior and poor body language. It was tough to hear, but I needed it. I took it to heart, and I’m thankful that I was able to respond positively.”
In this game, Coit was impressive, shooting 69.2% from the field (9 of 13), and he excelled from three-point range at 57.1% (4 of 7) while making all seven of his free throws. He was the only player to hit more than one shot from beyond the arc.
Regarding Coit’s game-winning three-pointer, Coach Williams mentioned that he sought input from players during a timeout with 31 seconds left.
“I just asked the players which play they wanted to execute,” he explained. “They have earned the right to make that choice. If they required me to sketch out a new play, I would do so, but they opted for one they were comfortable with. It wasn’t a perfect look, but it worked.”
Maryland Skirts by the Golden Gophers
Entering this matchup, Maryland had allowed the most points in the Big Ten, averaging 79.8 per game. While the Golden Gophers didn’t exceed that figure, they successfully attacked from the perimeter.
Through their persistent efforts, the Golden Gophers found success, scoring 14 three-pointers, their second-highest tally this season, with an accuracy rate of 42.4%. This achievement wasn’t born from any groundbreaking tactics but rather relied heavily on Asuma’s hot shooting, which included a career-best six treys, enhanced by well-timed screens that created opportunities for players like junior Bobby Durkin (3 of 8) and Tyson (2 of 6).
Coach Williams acknowledged the challenging perimeter play employed by Minnesota coach Niko Medved, which forces defenses to remain alert and adaptable.
“Fourteen three-pointers is a lot,” Williams remarked. “Thirty-three of their 47 shots came from beyond the arc, which indicates a high volume. But their offense functioned well off the catch, making effective use of the players’ shooting capabilities.”
Despite Asuma’s three-point prowess, he faltered when he needed to capitalize closer to the basket. After Coit had given Maryland a late 65-62 lead, Asuma missed a crucial one-and-one free throw with just nine seconds left. Following his miss, senior Solomon Washington grabbed the rebound, and Coit was promptly fouled, allowing him to secure the victory with two additional free throws.
Maryland may have escaped with a win this time, but their defensive challenges remain, particularly as they face off against Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, all of whom excel in their three-point shooting.
Terps Find Success Against a Lighter Opponent
Historically, Maryland has struggled against larger teams, particularly within the paint. However, they found success against Minnesota, dominating the paint with a score of 28-10.
They also edged out Minnesota in total rebounds, 31-28, securing 10 offensive boards compared to the Golden Gophers’ nine, resulting in a slim advantage in second-chance points (10-9). While these numbers might not seem significant, every contribution is critical for a struggling offense during tightly contested games.
Senior power forward Elijah Saunders managed only two points on 1 of 6 shooting, lacking effectiveness from three-point range (0 of 5) while matching his fouls (two) with rebounds. Meanwhile, another starter, Metcalf, scored just four points and registered an equal number of personal fouls (three) and rebounds.
For Maryland to build upon this win, they will need to garner more production from their roster and have contributions from multiple sources.
If you have any news tips, please reach out to Edward Lee at eklee@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 or follow me on x.com/EdwardLeeSun.
