Zach Edey had 24 points and 16 rebounds and Braden Smith's two free throws with 3.9 seconds left helped No. 3 Purdue fend off a furious second-half charge from Maryland for a 58-55 victory on Sunday.
Maryland Purdue Basketball Purdue guard Braden Smith (3) shoots in front of Maryland guard Don Carey (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. Purdue defeated Maryland 58-55. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Maryland Purdue Basketball Purdue center Zach Edey (15) gets a dunk against Maryland during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. Purdue defeated Maryland 58-55. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Maryland Purdue Basketball Purdue head coach Matt Painter gestures on the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Maryland in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. Purdue defeated Maryland 58-55. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Maryland Purdue Basketball Purdue guard Braden Smith (3) drives between Maryland guard Ian Martinez (23) and guard Jahmir Young (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. Purdue defeated Maryland 58-55. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Maryland Purdue Basketball Purdue guard Fletcher Loyer (2) shoots over Maryland forward Julian Reese (10) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. Purdue defeated Maryland 58-55. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Maryland Purdue Basketball Purdue center Zach Edey (15) and Maryland forward Ike Cornish (20) fight for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Maryland Purdue Basketball Purdue guard Fletcher Loyer (2) celebrates after a basket against Maryland during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Maryland Purdue Basketball Maryland guard Jahmir Young (1) shoots over Purdue guard Ethan Morton (25) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Maryland Purdue Basketball Maryland guard Jahmir Young (1) shoots around Purdue guard Braden Smith (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Maryland Purdue Basketball Maryland forward Julian Reese (10) tries to get around Purdue center Zach Edey (15) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Maryland Purdue Basketball Maryland guard Ian Martinez (23) shoots over Purdue guard Ethan Morton (25) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Maryland Purdue Basketball Purdue center Zach Edey (15) gets a dunk against Maryland during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. Purdue defeated Maryland 58-55. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Maryland Purdue Basketball Purdue center Zach Edey (15) shoots over Maryland forward Julian Reese (10) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. Purdue defeated Maryland 58-55. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Maryland Purdue Basketball Purdue guard Ethan Morton (25) shoots in front of Maryland guard Hakim Hart (13) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. Purdue defeated Maryland 58-55. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Maryland Purdue Basketball Maryland guard Ian Martinez (23) shoots over Purdue guard Ethan Morton (25) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Maryland Purdue Basketball Maryland guard Don Carey (0) shoots over Purdue guard Braden Smith (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Maryland Purdue Basketball Maryland guard Jahmir Young (1) shoots around Purdue guard Braden Smith (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Purdue coach Matt Painter kept imploring his team to focus on the simple things Sunday, like passing and catching.
It worked perfectly in the first half. Then, the Boilermakers spent the final 20 minutes scrambling to replicate it.
Zach Edey finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds and Braden Smith made two free throws with 3.9 seconds left to help No. 3 Purdue fend off Maryland’s furious second-half charge for a 58-55 victory.
“It’s just making good plays,” Painter said after his team nearly blew a 16-point lead. “If they clamp down, pass the ball. That’s all it really comes down to, just execute and take what they’re giving you.”
Usually, Purdue is one of America’s most efficient teams. The Boilermakers have now won six straight to become the fifth Big Ten team to go 19-1 since 2000 and the first ever at Purdue. But on a day Edey had his 16th double-double of the season, the Boilermakers, who are 8-1 in conference play, weren’t themselves.
The Terrapins routinely switched from man-to-man defense to zone and back again, while also applying full-court pressure, which caused Purdue to commit eight second-half turnovers, go 0 for 6 on 3-pointers and shoot just 26.9% from the field.
All of it led to Maryland (12-7, 3-5) nearly pulling off a stunning comeback after trailing by as many as 16 points in the first half and 35-21 at halftime.
“We’re pretty used to it,” first-year Maryland coach Kevin Willard said when asked about the big early deficit. “We’ve not gotten off to goood starts on the road. Being down 14, I though was a win because I knew we had a run in us.”
Did they ever.
Reese spurred Maryland’s 9-3 run to open the second half and his layup with 7:03 to play got the Terrapins within 52-49, the first of four times they cut the deficit to three in the closing minutes.
But in a game Purdue led wire-to-wire, Maryland made only two more baskets and couldn’t get closer than three until Young made two free throws with 5.3 seconds to go. Smith answered with two more for Purdue and Young’s long but off-the-mark heave had Purdue fans and Painter breathing a sigh of relief.
“Each game, especially when you have young players on your team, you have some guys who are always learning,” Painter said. “We were fortunate to win this game because as I said earlier, it could have gone either way.”
BIG PICTURE
Maryland: Instead of building momentum after Thursday’s victory over Michigan, the Terrapins started slow again and came up short again on the road. Maryland, which once reached No. 13 in The Associated Press poll, hasn’t won a true road game since Nov. 29 and must solve the road mystery to stay in the NCAA Tournament hunt.
Purdue began the day as one of four Division I teams with only one loss — and the lone Power Five representative on the list. Thanks to Saturday’s loss by No. 2 Kansas and top-ranked Houston’s loss to Temple on Sunday, the Boilermakers may reclaim the top spot.
UP NEXT
Maryland: Returns home Wednesday to host Wisconsin.
Purdue: Visits Michigan on Thursday, its second trip north of the state line in two weeks.
