Maryland men’s basketball stalls in overtime thriller at Northwestern, 76-74

Maryland men’s basketball experienced its first taste of overtime basketball Thursday at Northwestern, and the result was heartbreaking.

With 0.7 seconds left in the overtime period, Wildcats forward Nick Martinelli rotated from the top of the key to the baseline before sinking an inbounds game-winning jumper to win the game, 76-74, and send Welsh-Ryan Arena into a frenzy.

The Terps struggled in overtime, shooting just 2-of-6 from the field and 0-of-2 from 3-point range.

Maryland also stumbled out of the gate, committing three sloppy turnovers in the first three and a half minutes. Its execution was lacking around the rim as missed opportunities by Derik Queen and Julian Reese contributed to the sluggish start.

However, Northwestern did not capitalize. Its offense struggled early, plagued by a traveling violation and three missed 3-pointers. The Wildcats managed just 10 points in the first eight minutes and endured a nearly three-minute scoring drought.

Looking to inject some energy, head coach Kevin Willard turned to Tafara Gapare from the bench. Gapare struck immediately, draining two quick 3-pointers. His ability to stretch the floor has been crucial for the Terps lately, and Thursday’s game was no exception. He finished with nine points and one rebound.

Maryland clung to a narrow three-point lead midway through the first half. Both offenses found their rhythm and each shot 50% or better from the field, but Maryland’s seven turnovers in the first 11 minutes were big. The seventh was especially costly – it led to a fast break and-1 by Northwestern’s Angelo Ciaravino that tied the game at 19-19.

Queen’s couldn’t repeat its dominant 27-point performance Monday against Minnesota. The 6-foot-10 freshman struggled early, picking up two personal fouls in the first 13 minutes and shooting just 1 for 3 from the field in that span. He finished the game with nine points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field, 14 rebounds and five turnovers.

Northwestern’s Ty Berry put together an 8-0 solo run late in the half, draining two 3-pointers to give the Wildcats a slim two-point edge with nearly three minutes remaining. But Maryland remained aggressive and consistently attacked the basket. That approach led to a flurry of mistakes for Northwestern, as the Wildcats committed 11 in the first half. The Terps took advantage, hitting all 11 of their free throw attempts, eight of which came from Reese.

Despite Maryland’s success at the line, Northwestern held a narrow 38-37 lead at halftime.

The Terps got off to an unusually poor start from the field in the second half, shooting just 2-of-8 in the first three minutes, but still led 44-42. Martinelli was aggressive for the Wildcats, driving to the hoop and initiating contact around the rim, scoring six points early in the half.

Maryland grabbed five offensive rebounds in the first five minutes of the half, but that led to just three second-chance points. Queen and Ja’Kobi Gillespie shot a combined 2-of-6 in that span, with Queen forcing another bad pass that led to a turnover.

In the following minutes, Northwestern built a 10-point lead with a decisive 13-0 run, while Maryland struggled offensively, missing seven consecutive field goal attempts.

A Rodney Rice 3-pointer finally ended the Terps’ scoring drought, but the five-and-a-half-minute stretch without a single point had already taken its toll.

Still, Maryland showed resilience. A 10-2 run brought the Terps within two points with 6:20 left. With Queen in foul trouble and struggling, Willard turned to a small-ball lineup, briefly inserting Selton Miguel at power forward.

But regardless of the combination, Maryland simply couldn’t hit salary. Another scoreless drought — this time just over three minutes — again had to be answered by a Rice 3-pointer, bringing the Terps back within six points with 3:30 left.

Then a sudden 9-2 Maryland run took place, setting it up to either tie or take the lead with under a minute left.

Despite the Terps being stripped twice near the bucket, a missed free throw by Brooks Barnhizer on the ensuing possession allowed Gillespie to notch the tying basket with six seconds remaining, sending the contest into overtime.

In the extended period, the game’s hectic pace of play was as evident as ever. Gillespie scored again with six seconds remaining before Martinelli’s heroics ended the night in dramatic fashion.

Three things to know

1. Giveaway Issues. The Terps were uncharacteristically sloppy with the ball at several times Thursday. They committed 16 turnovers to Northwestern’s 13, including a team-high five by Queen.

2. Reese put on a show. The senior forward attacked the rim Thursday, and while he went just 5-for-13 from the field, he made 13 of his 14 free-throw attempts — especially impressive for a player who has struggled at the line throughout his career. He finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

3. There are still problems on the roads. Heading into the night, Maryland had yet to win a road game. Thursday’s loss left their road record 0-4, with Willard and his team desperately searching for answers.