COLLEGE PARK, M.D. — Manhattan hung tough against Maryland over the first 20 minutes, trailing 31-28 going into the locker room despite trailing by nine points early. The Terrapins responded to Manhattan's pressure by outscoring the Jaspers 48-21 in the second half.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-After falling 16-9 following a three pointer from Tafara Gapare, the Jaspers clawed back with an 8-1 run which included back to back threes from freshman forward Fraser Roxburgh and redshirt sophomore Devin Dinkins.
- The Terrapins met Manhattan's challenge and responded with five unanswered on a three from Jay Young and a basket from Julian Reese.
-The first half became a defensive slug fest, with both teams shooting a combined 6-22. The Jaspers held Maryland without a FG for an over 5-minute stretch in the first half before Jay Young's three at 6:31 put the Terps back on top 20-17.
-Freshman center Derik Queen was instrumental in putting the game out of reach. Queen scored 11 points in the second half, including seven straight which extended Maryland's lead to a then game-high 11 points at the 16:34 mark, and finished with 22 points and 20 rebounds on 9-16 shooting.
-Manhattan senior forward Wesley Robinson picked up his third foul 64 seconds into the second half to which Maryland responded with a quick 12-2 run.
-The Jaspers gave up scoring runs of 7-0, 8-0 and 7-0 all in less than 10 minutes into the second half, and trailed by 20 with 11:10 left.
STATS AND NOTES
-Senior guard Shaquil Bender led Manhattan with 12 points and also grabbed six rebounds. Redshirt sophomore guard Devin Dinkins was the only other Jasper to hit double-digits in points with 10.
-Fraser Roxburgh led all Manhattan freshmen in minutes with 30, and added eight points and four rebounds.
-Manhattan was held to 6-32 shooting (18.75%) and 1-16 from three (6.25%) in the second half.
QUOTES FROM THE JASPERS
Head coach John Gallagher on keeping it a one-possession game for long stretches of the first half: "I thought we had great poise and great ball toughness and played with good pace. They were trying to play a track meet and we tried to slow the game down."
Gallagher on Bender and Dinkins' success at times from the guard spot: "In the first half, they were driving and kicking with a lot of space. We can build on that, but some of the stuff in the second half we're going to have to correct."
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