Layman Key As Maryland Nips Florida Atlantic 66-62
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Maryland's Jake Layman scored 22 points, including a big 3-pointer in the final 35 seconds, to help the Terrapins hold off a late rally by Florida Atlantic in a 66-62 victory Saturday.
Shaquille Cleare, Dez Wells and Charles Mitchell each scored 10 points for Maryland (7-4).
Florida Atlantic guard Pable Bertone, who entered the game averaging 20 points, finished with 21. Marquan Botley added 18 points for the Owls (3-8)
After opening an early 13-point lead midway through the first half, Maryland led just 33-31 at the break. A jumper by Charles Mitchell extended the lead to 42-34 lead with 16:42 left in the game.
However, Florida Atlantic would not go away and Bertone scored eight points to pull the Owls to within four with just over five minutes remaining. After a layup by Layman, Bertone was fouled while converting a layup and his ensuing free throw cut the margin to 3 with 1:30 left.
Maryland then held possession and a 3-pointer by Layman with 35 seconds remaining sealed the game.
Florida Atlantic missed its first six shots, allowing the Terps to open a 13-4 lead with 13:27 left in the first half. A steal and ensuing by Roddy Peters later increased Maryland's lead to 22-9 with 9:20 remaining.
The Owls finally settled down and a putback by Kelvin Penn cut the margin to 6 with 5:23 left. After a pair of Maryland turnovers, Florida Atlantic stayed to within two points at the half on a pair of 3-pointers by Bertone and Botley.
The Terps shot just 35.3 percent (12-for-34) in the opening half.
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