No. 14 Maryland Routs Michigan State, 75-59

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Freshman Melo Trimble scored 21 of his 24 points in the first half, and No. 14 Maryland breezed past Michigan State 75-59 Saturday to sweep the season series and gain sole possession of first place in the Big Ten.

Trimble made five 3-pointers to stake the Terrapins to a 40-26 halftime lead, and the margin swelled to 20 with 10 minutes left. It was a sharp contrast to the first meeting between the teams, a double-overtime thriller on Dec. 30.

In this one, Maryland (17-2, 5-1) sank 11 3-pointers and limited the Spartans (12-6, 3-2) to 3-for-17 shooting from beyond the arc. Jake Layman had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Terrapins, his fourth double-double of the season and second in a row.

Playing its first season in the Big Ten, Maryland moved a half-game ahead of idle Wisconsin for the top spot and handed Michigan State its most-lopsided defeat of the season.

Branden Dawson had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Spartans and Matt Costello scored 12. Michigan State had won three straight since its home loss to Maryland.

Travis Trice, who came with a Spartans-leading average of 14.3 points per game, finished with five on 2-for-8 shooting. Another factor: Maryland went 20 for 22 at the foul line and Michigan State was 4 for 13.

With a sellout crowd of 17,950 cheering his every move, Trimble weaved in and out of the Spartans' defense before sinking shots from far and near during the first half.

The 6-foot-3 point guard saved his best for last, holding the ball as the clock wound down before juking Lourawls Nairn Jr. off his feet and making a 3-pointer from the top of the key as the buzzer sounded.

With Trimble and Layman leading the way, the Terrapins didn't need any offense from Dez Wells, who came in averaging 14.1 points but didn't score until sinking a layup with 14:39 left.

The basket put the Terps up 50-37, and Wells followed with a 3 that boosted the margin to 16 and effectively ended any shot the Spartans had of making a comeback.

Trimble made seven of 11 shots in the first half, including 5 for 7 from beyond the arc.

After Michigan State used an 8-0 spurt to take a 10-5 lead, Layman scored seven straight points and Trimble followed with 13 in a row during a 22-6 run that put the Terrapins up 27-16.

Maryland made only one more basket than the Spartans in the first half but went 6 for 11 from beyond the arc and 8 for 8 at the foul line. Michigan State missed all four of its 3-point tries and made only two free throws.

TIP-INS

Michigan State: Dawson played without a brace above his left hand for the first time since he fractured his wrist Dec. 17 against Eastern Michigan. He missed games on Dec. 20 and 22 before returning with a brace against the Terps.

Maryland: The Terrapins used their eighth different starting lineup. Sophomore Damonte Dodd was replaced by Jon Graham, who missed his first two shots and was taken out for Dodd with just over three minutes elapsed.

UP NEXT

Michigan State hosts Penn State on Wednesday.

Maryland travels to Indiana on Thursday.

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