3 reasons IU basketball beat Maryland: Defense, frontcourt push Hoosiers past Terps

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Indiana picked up its second road victory of the season Saturday, this one in dominant fashion. The Hoosiers pounded Maryland 68-55 at the Xfinity Center, beating the Terps in College Park for the first time since 1934. They had lost all four of their games here since Maryland joined the Big Ten for the 2014-15 season. Indiana improved to 16-5 overall, 7-4 in the Big Ten. Maryland fell to 11-10, 3-7.

Postgame Q&A: If IU keeps playing like it did vs. Maryland, what is Hoosiers' ceiling?

A happy homecoming: Xavier Johnson continues 'making winning plays' vs. Maryland

More: IU fans wanted to see Khristian Lander. Against Maryland, they got a glimpse.

Here are three reasons why it happened.

IU defended well inside and outside

Maryland scored on each of its first three possessions, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers and connecting on three of their first four field goal attempts. After that, however, the Hoosiers' defense showed up and the Terps missed their next eight shots and 12 of their next 13.

The Hoosiers were exceptional around the rim, blocking five shots and allowing just 20 points in the paint. After early breakdowns, they also got better on the perimeter, especially once they brought sophomore Trey Galloway off the bench to chase around Maryland star guard Eric Ayala. Ayala made his first 3-pointer with Parker Stewart defending him, but then made just one 3-pointer after that and finished 2-of-12 from the field and 2-of-10 from beyond the arc. His six points left him well short of the 16.3 per game he was averaging coming into the game. Fatts Russell, Maryland's second-leading scorer, wasn't much better, making just 3-of-12 field goal attempts and 1-of-5 3-pointers for 12 points.

The Terps finished 16 of 56 from the field (28.6%) and 6-of-27 from beyond the arc. They were 7-of-25 from the field in the second half and had just four field goals in the game's last 17 minutes.

Maryland couldn't stop Indiana inside

Indiana struggled to make shots outside in the first half, making just 1-of-9 first-half 3-point attempts so Maryland responded by packing the paint and even bringing in some 2-3 zone.

It didn't much matter. The Hoosiers still outscored Maryland in the paint 36-20 with its trusty big men leading the way. Junior Trayce Jackson-Davis posted 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting to go with nine rebounds and fifth-year senior Race Thompson posted 18 points and 12 rebounds. Reserve Jordan Geronimo added six points and eight rebounds, and those three combined to score more than 60% of Indiana's points. The Hoosiers found their outside shot in the second half, hitting on 5-of-11 3-point attempts, so that helped the Hoosiers pad their advantage.

Xavier Johnson picked Maryland's defense apart

Indiana point guard Xavier Johnson had this game circled on his calendar because it meant a return home. He grew up in Woodbridge, Va., about an hour from College Park and still part of the Washington D.C. suburbs. He clearly planned to put on a show at home, especially with Rob Phinisee sidelined with plantar fasciitis, he did even though he only made 1-of-8 field goal attempts.

Johnson finished with eight points and nine assists, breaking down Maryland's defense with dribble drives and finding cutters at the rim for easy layups. He pushed the pace in transition, helping the Hoosiers score 11 points on fastbreaks. He attacked the rim and forced Maryland to foul him rather than give up dunks, going to the line for six free throws and hitting five of them. He committed only two turnovers in 29 minutes and the Hoosiers were +20 when he was on the floor.

INDIANA 68, MARYLAND 55

INDIANA (16-5) — Jackson-Davis 7-12 3-4 17, Kopp 2-6 0-0 6, Thompson 7-12 2-4 18, Johnson 1-8 5-6 8, Stewart 0-1 0-0 0, Galloway 4-5 0-0 8, Geronimo 3-7 0-0 6, Bates 0-6 0-0 0, Lander 2-2 0-0 5, Leal 0-1 0-0 0, Duncomb 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-60 10-14 68.

MARYLAND (11-10) — D.Scott 1-7 4-4 7, Wahab 4-9 4-4 12, Ayala 2-12 0-0 6, Hart 5-10 3-3 15, Russell 3-12 5-5 12, Green 1-3 1-2 3, Reese 0-2 0-0 0, Martinez 0-1 0-0 0, Wright 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-56 17-18 55.

Halftime—Indiana 33-26. 3-Point Goals: Indiana 6-20 (Thompson 2-2, Kopp 2-4, Lander 1-1, Johnson 1-5, Galloway 0-1, Geronimo 0-1, Leal 0-1, Stewart 0-1, Bates 0-4), Maryland 6-27 (Hart 2-6, Ayala 2-10, Russell 1-5, D.Scott 1-5, Green 0-1). Rebounds: Indiana 39 (Thompson 12), Maryland 36 (Wahab 8). Assists: Indiana 17 (Johnson 9), Maryland 11 (Ayala 5). Total Fouls: Indiana 19, Maryland 16.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: 3 reasons why IU basketball beat Maryland for key road win