Trimble Scores 26, No. 16 Maryland Edges Nebraska 69-65
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- Melo Trimble scored 26 points, including a pair of pivotal 3-pointers down the stretch, and No. 16 Maryland squeezed past Nebraska 69-65 Thursday night in the first-ever meeting between the teams.
Dez Wells and Jake Layman each scored 14 for the Terrapins (22-5, 10-4 Big Ten), who were locked in a tie game with 5:38 left before Trimble took over.
After Wells made two free throws, Trimble beat the shot clock with a jump shot from atop the key. The freshman guard connected again from beyond the arc with 2:18 remaining for a 62-54 lead.
That was just enough to provide Maryland with another close win. The Terrapins have won their last three games by a total of 11 points and are 8-0 in games decided by six points or fewer.
Trimble went 7 for 9 from the floor and made 10 of 11 free throws. He also led Maryland with six rebounds and five assists.
Walter Pitchford scored 19 and Shavon Shields added 13 for Nebraska (13-13, 5-9). Terran Petteway, who came in averaging 18.7 points, was held to eight on 2-for-14 shooting.
The Cornhuskers have lost four straight and six of seven, but they gave the Terrapins all they could handle in this one.
A 3-pointer by Pitchford got the Huskers to 65-62 with 29 seconds left, Nebraska gained possession on a steal. But Wells stole the ball and Trimble made two free throws on the other end to clinch it.
Maryland improved to 16-1 at home, 7-0 in the Big Ten.
After Nebraska made the first two baskets of the second half to go up 38-34, Trimble hit a runner to spark a 10-0 run that put Maryland up by six.
A 3-pointer by Jared Nickens made it 49-42 with 11:29 remaining, but the Huskers answered with a 6-0 spurt that included a pair of baskets by Leslee Smith.
Maryland led 50-48 when Petteway was called for his fourth foul with 8:05 left. Two straight field goals by Shields knotted the score at 52 with 6:59 to go, setting the stage for the exciting finish.
Trimble scored 11 points and Wells had 10 to stake Maryland to a 34-33 halftime lead.
Nebraska got 22 points from its bench, including 11 by Pitchford, to keep it close. Pitchford had started all 25 of the Huskers' previous games this season.
Maryland made six of its first seven shots, including two from beyond the arc, to take a 14-5 lead.
The Huskers trailed 32-21 before Petteway and Pitchford hit 3-pointers to start an 11-2 run before the break.
TIP-INS
Nebraska: The Huskers are 0-7 on the road in Big Ten play. ... Shavon scored in double figures for a ninth consecutive game, tying a career high. ... Nebraska has lost five straight against ranked opponents. ... The Huskers have held 37 straight opponents under 50 percent shooting from the field.
Maryland: The Terps will play home-and-home series next season with five foes: Michigan, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin. ... Maryland was held without an offensive rebound in the first half. ... Trimble has totaled 84 points in his last four games after scoring a combined seven vs. Ohio State and Penn State.
UP NEXT
Nebraska hosts Iowa on Sunday.
Maryland hosts Wisconsin on Tuesday night.
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