No. 19 Maryland Host Hoosiers Wednesday
(AP/JEFF MEZYDLO) -- Shortly after a blowout loss at Indiana last month, Maryland had its sights set on the rematch.
Looking to avenge that defeat, the No. 19 Terrapins try to rebound from a third straight lopsided road loss by extending the Hoosiers' struggles away from Assembly Hall on Wednesday night.
Maryland opened 17-2 before giving up what remains the highest point total it has allowed this season in an 89-70 loss at then-No. 23 Indiana on Jan. 22. The Terps' 50.9-percent shooting is still their best in league play, but the Hoosiers shot 60.0 percent and hit a season-high 15 3-pointers.
"We're never going to forget this night," Maryland forward Jake Layman said after scoring a team-high 13 points in that loss. "We're looking forward to (seeing Indiana again)."
Though the Terrapins (19-5, 7-4 Big Ten) are eager to face the Hoosiers (17-7, 7-4) and win a 10th consecutive home game, things haven't been easy any place for coach Mark Turgeon's squad lately. The loss at Indiana began a five-game stretch which has included three road losses by at least 16 points apiece and two home wins by a combined seven points over two of the Big Ten's worst teams, Northwestern and Penn State.
The Terps were no match for Iowa on Sunday, shooting 6 of 25 while scoring 17 first-half points and never threatening in the second half of a 71-55 loss.
"Kids are resilient," Turgeon said after his team let the Hawkeyes shoot a season-high 64.3 percent. "You move on. It's a grind."
Maryland has had to grind things out in its last two at home, needing Dez Wells' tip-in with 1.4 seconds left to beat Northwestern and overcoming a second-half deficit versus Penn State.
The recent struggles stem from a defense that's allowed its last five opponents to shoot 51.8 percent and average 73.0 points. The Terps had previously been allowing averages of 37.7 percent and 61.5 points.
"Teams are making shots on us," Turgeon said. "Are we making mistakes? Absolutely. Are we trying to get them corrected? Yes. Right now, if we make mistakes defensively teams are making us pay.
"Hopefully we can play better defense down the stretch."
Maryland also has shot 37.9 percent while failing to score 70 points in four games since facing the Hoosiers.
"We've got to become a lot more efficient offensively than we've been," Turgeon said.
Though the Hoosiers have shot 48.4 percent in their last eight games, they've allowed those opponents to shoot 52.3.
That's perhaps one reason Indiana coach Tom Crean expects the rematch to be more difficult.
"I don't think there is any question that Maryland will be fantastic and that's what they are capable of," said Crean, whose team has lost three straight road games. "It's hard to go on the road in a conference and have success."
The Hoosiers held Maryland leading scorer Melo Trimble (15.4 per game) to 10 points last month. The freshman point guard scored 20 on 7-of-12 shooting at Iowa after missing all 13 of his field-goal attempts in the previous two games.
He'll likely see plenty of Indiana's Yogi Ferrell (16.0 ppg), who scored 24 and went 7 of 8 from beyond arc in the first meeting. Indiana's own talented freshman, James Blackmon Jr. (16.3), had 22 in that contest.
"They have really good players," Turgeon said. "Hopefully we can guard them a little better."
Sophomore Troy Williams had 20 points with eight rebounds and Ferrell added 18 points with six assists in Sunday's 70-67 win over Michigan.
Indiana has won seven consecutive home games against Top 25 teams but has dropped five straight on the road.
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Listen to the game LIVE on 105.7 The Fan starting with the pregame show at 8:30 PM and tip time at 9 PM.
