Wells Scores 18 As Maryland Beats Tulsa 85-74
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- Danny Manning contended he was ejected for using the word "unbelievable."
The Tulsa coach and former NBA star could very well have used the same word to describe the play of Maryland guard Seth Allen.
Playing for the first time since breaking his left foot in October, Allen scored 15 points to help the Terrapins overcome an early double-digit deficit in an 85-74 victory Sunday night.
"I knew he was going to play well," said coach Mark Turgeon, who earned his 300th career victory. "Seth is a special athlete and a good player. It's just good to get him back. It gave everybody, including me, confidence."
Allen came off the bench to provide Maryland (8-5) with a much-needed spark. Despite being sidelined for three months, the sophomore point guard played 21 minutes, had three of the Terps' 10 assists and connected three times from beyond the arc.
"It was very exciting just to get back on the floor," Allen said. "I was anxious. But to play with my team again, it was great."
Returning from a seven-day layoff, the Terrapins fell behind 25-10 with 11 minutes elapsed before Allen fueled an 18-4 run with a layup and a 3-pointer.
Still, the Terrapins didn't take the lead for good until Jake Layman drilled a 3-pointer to make it 48-45 with 12:32 left. Nick Faust followed with a jumper from beyond the arc, and Maryland moved ahead 52-47 before Manning was ejected after receiving successive technical fouls with 10:35 remaining.
Layman made all four foul shots, and Allen added two free throws to give the Terrapins an 11-point cushion. It was the first time in Manning's two years as Tulsa's coach that he was ejected from a game.
"I said, `Unbelievable.' You can verify that with the people at the table," Manning said.
Asked his opinion of the officiating, Manning said, "I'm not allowed to say much. I wish we shot more than 10 free throws."
Maryland, in contrast, went 23 for 35 at the line.
Dez Wells had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Terrapins, but Allen was the key contributor.
"He does a lot for us," Wells said of his teammate. "He's just a dynamic player. To lose him before the season started, it was tough for us."
Sitting calmly in the visitor's locker room, Manning conceded that Allen was the difference in the game.
"He's a very talented kid and is a factor for that team scoring points," Manning said.
Said Allen: "I didn't think I was going to play as well as I did, but I can still do better."
James Woodard scored 25 for the Golden Hurricane (4-9). The 6-foot-3 sophomore has led Tulsa in points in seven of the last nine games.
Maryland had five players score in double figures. Evan Smotrycz and Faust each had 13 and Layman added 12.
Wells and Allen each had nine points in a first half that ended tied at 35.
Tulsa led 11-4 before Wells interrupted the surge with a follow-shot, giving him 1,000 points during a career that began at Xavier in 2011.
Soon after that, Allen entered for the first time this season. The 6-foot-1 sophomore was poised to make his first basket, a breakaway layup, when Woodard swooped from behind and swatted the shot away.
That typified the first half for the Terrapins. It was 13-9 before backup guard Pat Swilling made a pair of 3-pointers during a 12-1 spurt that put the Golden Hurricane up by 15.
And then Maryland finally woke up. Smotrycz sank two jumpers from beyond the arc and Allen scored five points in a run that closed the deficit to 29-28.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
