Second-half smackdown: Takeaways as Maryland dumps Iowa basketball

Posted by author February 17, 2025 Basketball

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After snapping its three-game losing streak with an 84-73 win at Rutgers on Wednesday night, Iowa basketball couldn’t keep the momentum rolling for the entirety of Sunday afternoon at College Park.

Iowa was run off the court in the second half, losing in blowout fashion at Maryland, 101-75. The Hawkeyes actually led at halftime from inside the XFINITY Center, 51-47, but then the wheels came off in the game’s final 20 minutes.

With the loss, Iowa drops to 14-11 (5-9 Big Ten). As the Hawkeyes suffer yet another embarrassing road result, here’s some of the immediate takeaways.

Iowa basketball collapsed in the second half

There’s no spinning it. Iowa fell apart after halftime. Maryland blitzed Iowa in the game’s final 20 minutes, outscoring Iowa, 54-24, in the second half. Maryland started the second half with a 23-4 scoring run and had another 16-1 scoring run after that.

Maryland shot 59.5% in the second half, while Iowa shot just 29.7% after halftime. The Terps also dominated the points in the paint in the second half, 30-18, and won the rebounding battle, 26-17.

Maryland scored a record number of points in a Big Ten game

The Terrapins made program history against Iowa on Sunday. With their 101 points, Maryland scored its most points in a Big Ten game since joining the league a decade ago. Maryland’s previous high score in a Big Ten game came against Ohio State in 2016 when the Terps scored 100.

The Iowa three-ball disappeared after halftime

According to the broadcast, Iowa and Maryland combined for the most points in the first half of a Big Ten game all season.

The Hawkeyes appeared prepared to go blow for blow with the Terps. Iowa knocked down 8-of-14 from beyond the arc to build its 51-47 halftime lead.

Then, it all changed after halftime. Iowa proceeded to misfire on all 13 of its second-half 3-point attempts.

Maryland’s starting five was fantastic

Iowa’s bench outscored Maryland’s bench, 26-6, but none of that mattered because the Terps’ starting five just couldn’t be stopped. Maryland’s starters scored 95 of their 101 points.

All five Terrapin starters scored more than 16 points and only Selton Miguel didn’t shoot 50% or better. Miguel knocked down five 3-pointers to make up for the fact that he was the Terps’ only starter below 50% shooting.

Ja’Kobi Gillespie led the way for Maryland with 26 points.

Seydou Traore’s fourth foul was a killer

Iowa sophomore Seydou Traore had a tremendous first half. The 6-foot-7 forward scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including a made 3-pointer.

Traore’s play helped Iowa build its halftime lead and get off to the tremendous offensive start it got off to. Then, Traore picked up a quick pair of fouls to begin the second half and suddenly he had four fouls.

Traore picked up his second foul of the second half on a moving screen to try to free up junior guard Josh Dix. It came with Iowa trailing by only two points at 55-53 with 17:15 remaining in the second half. Traore didn’t return until there was only 7:34 remaining in the game and Iowa was trailing 86-62.

Pryce Sandfort couldn’t duplicate his first half

Sophomore forward Pryce Sandfort had a terrific first half off the bench for Iowa, scoring 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-4 from downtown. Pryce Sandfort was just 1-of-7 shooting in the second half and 0-for-4 from 3-point distance.

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