Dec. 22, 2009
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Winston-Salem State University men's basketball team played a stellar first 20 minutes of basketball but ran out of gas in the second half as they fell 98-55 to Atlantic Coast Conference basketball power Maryland at the Comcast Center in College Park, Maryland on Tuesday evening.
The Terps used an impressive 56.9 percent shooting performance as Maryland hit 33 of their 58 field goals in the contest including a scorching 12 of 18 shooting display from three-point range as they turned a 12-point halftime advantage into a 43-point victory to improve to 7-3 on the season.
The Rams, undaunted by the Terrapins, would battle UM blow-for-blow in the game's first 20 minutes of play as WSSU used a stingy defense and a 19-14 first-half rebounding advantage to overcome Maryland's size and depth as Winston-Salem State found themselves tied with their hosts 12-12 with 12:50 remaining in the first half of play.
However, the Terrapins would use a 9-2 run, including perfect three-of-three shooting from long range to turn a 12-12 tie into a 21-14 advantage, a lead that they would not surrender for the remainder of the game, as they pulled ahead 21-14 with 11:08 to play in the first half.
Despite the Terps' run, the Rams' resolve would not wane as WSSU would again cut into Maryland's cushion as WSSU looked to close the first half with only minimal space between the two teams.
Once again it would be Maryland's outside shooting that would increase their scoring advantage, this time putting the game out of reach, as the Terrapins mounted a decided run over the final three minutes of the first half and the first eight minutes of the second half as Maryland turned in a 41-5 offensive burst over the span of 11 minutes that gave Maryland a 30-point advantage.
"They [Maryland] did a very good job of executing their offense tonight, and when we adjusted they kept knocking down shots" WSSU head coach Bobby Collins said. "We ran into a hot-shooting team tonight, especially in the second half" he added.
The offensive explosion would be keyed by the Terrapins' 66.7 percent second-half shooting as WSSU found themselves in a scoring deficit from which they would never recover en route to falling to 2-7 on the season with the loss.
Paul Davis led the Rams with a team-high 15 points and seven rebounds as he was the only WSSU player in double-figures. Davis hit six of his 10 field goals and pulled down three offensive rebounds in another strong game for the junior forward from Clio, S.C.
Greivis Vasquez led the Terrapins with 27 points and eight rebounds as he paced a Maryland offense that saw five players in double figures. Vasquez would lead the red-hit Terps' shooting performance with a perfect four-of-four display from three-point range en route to hitting nine of his 16 field goal attempts.
"Despite the loss, this game indicates to me several things" WSSU head coach Bobby Collins commented in post game interviews. "We competed hard, the effort was there, and it shows that we are capable" he added.
"We have some things to work on, and we need to do some things to get some of our important players involved. When we play hard, like we did in the first half, we can really be a force" Collins said.
The loss drops the Rams to 2-7 overall as the Rams will have seven days off before returning to action at Georgia Tech on Dec. 29. Tip-off is slated for 1:00 p.m. from Alexander Memorial Coliseum in Atlanta, Ga.
For additional information on WSSU men's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at WSSURams.com.
