Melo Trimble leads Maryland to win in long-awaited showdown with Georgetown
The long-awaited matchup of No. 3 Maryland and Georgetown on Tuesday night proved to be one of the most entertaining games in the early going of the college basketball season and the best example yet of why these programs should never again allow significant time to pass without confronting each other.
It was the first meeting between the schools played locally in the Washington D.C. area since 1993 and the first played on the Maryland campus since 1973. The Terrapins came back from a seven-point deficit in the final 4 minutes to win 75-71 and claim bragging rights.
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Sophomore guard Melo Trimble made all the difference for the Terrapinsin a game featuring stellar backcourt combinations on both sides of the court. Trimble and Duke transfer Rasheed Sulaimon ultimately got the best of D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera and L.J. Peak.
Trimble found his stroke after halftime with 17 points in the second half and 24 in the game. Trimble scored nine of those points in the final four minutes, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 3 minutes, 57 seconds left after the Terrapins had played most of the half from behind. Trimble also knocked down four free throws in the final 13 seconds to put the Hoyas away after Sulaimon gave Maryland a 3-point lead at the 1:20 mark.
Georgetown has had about as tough a start to the season as any major program in the nation. First the Hoyas lost in double overtime to Radford and now they must swallow a hard-fought defeat to a crosstown foe with national title aspirations.
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Still, there is no shame in losing in such fashion to the No. 3 team in the nation. In fact, while the outcome is disappointing, it is also evidence that when the Hoyas are focused and playing together, they can play at the highest level.
All five Georgetown starters scored in double figures with center Bradley Hayes leading the way with 16. D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera scored 14 with four assists and four rebounds, but the most encouraging line of the night on the Georgetown side came from freshman Marcus Derrickson who had 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks.
The Hoyas aren’t off to the best start, but they still have a lot of potential.
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[Kyle Ringo is the assistant editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KyleRingo