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Maryand fell to UVA in Charlottesville Tuesday evening, 61-53, behind 19 points from Joe Harris. Maryland was led by Seth Allen (15) and Dez Wells (12), but couldn't turn a halftime lead into a much needed ACC road win.
Dez Wells, Charles Mitchell, Jake Layman, Evan Smotrycz and Seth Allen all started for the Terps in what is likely to be their final trip to John Paul Jones arena.
After each team missed their first shot attempts, UVA struck first, but Seth Allen immediately answered with a drive and quick left-handed lay-up. Jake Layman followed up with a three pointer, giving the Terps a lead they would maintain for most of the first half. Both teams then traded baskets, with Evan Smotrycz pacing Maryland with eight early points, including two three pointers.
But UVA eventually tied it up after Maryland had pushed their lead as high as four. UVA then took their first lead since they led 2-0 to start the game after Akil Mitchell hit a lay-up. A minute later, Mitchell hit a jumper to give UVA a four point lead as the Terps struggled to score,
Maryland finally broke an almost five minute scoring drought as Seth Allen hit a lay-up to cut the lead back to two.
The Terps would then hold UVA scoreless for 5:22, allowing Maryland to gain a three point lead. It appeared Maryland would enter the half with that three point lead, but a quick inbound pass to Akil Mitchell, who slammed it home as the 1st half drew to a close cut the lead to one and Maryland entered halftime with Maryland up 26-25.
Maryland had to play without sophomore forward Jake Layman for the last four minutes of the first half, after he took an accidental finger to the eye.He returned to start the second half, but was clearly experiencing discomfort, shooting an airball before spending a good portion of the second half on the bench.
Maryland started the second half with a quick basket, but Virginia responded in a big way.
UVA then went on an 8-2 run before Nick Faust hit a jumper to prevent UVA from building a substantial lead.
Dez Wells then hit a jumper just inside the arc at the top of the key to tie the game at 35 with just over 12 minutes to go. But UVA immediately answered with a Joe Harris layup.
A short time later, Seth Allen forced a turnover under UVA's basket and tossed a long pass to a steaking Roddy Peters. But as Peters went in for what initially looked like a game-tying layup Justin Anderson blocked Peters' shot and UVA found Harris open for a three pointer, turning what appeared to be a tied game into a five point UVA lead.
UVA would then score four more points, capping off a 9-0 run, before Seth Allen stabalized Maryland with a lay-up, cutting the lead down to seven. Maryland twice got the lead down to five, but then missed their next three shots and committed a turnover while Virginia hit three straight baskets to give them their biggest lead of the game at the time of 11.
But Maryland didn't give up, cutting the lead down to four, with just under two minutes remaining, behind a three pointer and fast break slam by Nick Faust. The Terps had a great defensive series following Faust's slam and Evan Smotrycz attempted a three pointer that did everything but go through the net. It was as close as Maryland would get the rest of the game.
Maryland was forced to foul Joe Harris, who made one of two, but Maryland was unable to convert on the other end. UVA then made another set of free throws, pushing the lead up to nine. The Terps scored a last second three to cut the lead to eight, but Mark Turgeon told his team not to foul as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
