Terps Top Badgers in OT
December 03, 2003 | Men's Basketball
The No. 13 Wisconsin men's basketball team suffered a 73-67 overtime loss to No. 25 Maryland at Comcast Center Tuesday night in the fifth annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The game featured a late Wisconsin rally from seven points down with three minutes to play to send the game into overtime only to have Maryland outscore the Badgers 12-6 in the extra frame. UW's record is now 3-1.
A slow start by the Badgers allowed the Terrapins to jump out to a 12-5 lead early in the game. Wisconsin responded with a 9-0 run to take a 14-12 advantage while holding Maryland scoreless for more than five minutes. The Terps closed the first half outscoring the Badgers 18-8. Maryland's biggest lead of the game was a 10-point advantage, until Devin Harris made two free-throws to end the half with Maryland ahead 30-22.
After the break UW chipped away at its deficit, gaining its first lead of the half with a 43-42 advantage with just under 11 minutes remaining in the game. The lead did not last long as it changed three times over the next six minutes before the Terps seemingly took control by building a 57-50 lead late. The Badgers staged one more comeback as Mike Wilkinson nailed a three-pointer with less than ten seconds left to give Wisconsin the lead at 61-60. The Terrapins' countered when Nik Caner-Medley made a free-throw with two seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.
Maryland took control in the last two minutes of overtime by scoring 10 points to Wisconsin's two. Although the Terps were 4-of-8 from the stripe in OT, all four points came in the final 40 seconds of the game to help secure the victory.
Harris led the Badgers with 24 points, making five three-pointers in the second half. Harris also dished out seven assists. Mike Wilkinson contributed 14 points and grabbed nine boards.
Maryland's Jamar Smith recorded his fourth double-double of the season leading the all scorers with 25 points and 12 rebounds.
Though the Badgers' have averaged only 8.3 turnovers per game, Maryland's full court pressure forced nine Wisconsin turnovers in the first half, eight of which were steals. The UW adjusted to the pressure in the second half and overtime by committing only four turnovers.
Although Wisconsin leads the all-time series with Maryland 3-2, the Terrapins have won the last two meetings of the series including a win in the second round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament. The loss also drops the Badgers' Big Ten/ACC Challenge record to 1-4.
The Badgers get back into action Saturday night against Detroit. Tip off is at 7 p.m. at the Kohl Center.
