Gonzaga Dominates Maryland in College Basketball Showdown

Las Vegas, NV — The gap between Maryland men’s basketball and elite national contender Gonzaga became unmistakably clear Tuesday night. In a lopsided game at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the Maryland Terrapins fell to the No. 12 Bulldogs, 100-61, in the Players Era Festival.

The Terps never led and trailed by as much as 42 points during the game. Coach Buzz Williams recognized the challenge presented by Gonzaga, a team with a history of success in the NCAA Tournament. “They are incredibly good. Playing in a tournament like this affords us an opportunity to diagnose even more at a faster rate,” he said. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Maryland, bringing their record to 5-2.

For the Terrapins, senior power forward Pharrel Payne was the standout player, contributing 14 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Freshman Darius Adams added 13 points, while Andre Mills scored 11. Gonzaga’s Braden Huff was the game’s top scorer with 20 points, supported by 15 points from Emmanuel Innocenti and 14 points from Steele Venters.

Maryland struggled with ball control, turning the ball over 18 times, leading to 32 points for Gonzaga. Williams addressed this issue, stating, “We need to shorten the game… We’re giving them the ball too much.” This followed a previous game where the Terps committed 20 turnovers.

Gonzaga, capitalizing on Maryland’s mistakes, hit 14 three-pointers during the game, with Innocenti and Venters shooting impressively from beyond the arc. Williams noted the surprising success Gonzaga had from three-point range, reflecting on their experience with safeguarding against such plays. “Our execution of the plan wasn’t great,” he said.

The Bulldogs now prepare to face No. 7 Michigan in the tournament title game. Meanwhile, the Terps will need to regroup quickly as they face No. 8 Alabama on Thursday at midnight. Williams emphasized the urgency needed for his team moving forward in the competition.