In the last few minutes of a close game, Maryland got enough to beat Valparaiso — and then subsequently did almost enough to lose. When the smoke cleared, though, the Terrapins were still standing in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
March Madness bracket update: Maryland denies Valparaiso (and Bryce Drew)
The Terrapins didn’t quite close out cleanly, but they moved on in Friday action.
Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Melo Trimble, Dez Wells, and Jared Nickens all scored 14 points for No. 4 Maryland, but it was diminutive walk-on Varun Ram who shadowed Valparaiso's Keith Carter on the final play of the game, forcing a turnover that gave the Terrapins a 65-62 win. The win is Maryland's first NCAA Tournament victory since 2010, and its first under Mark Turgeon.
After Maryland built an eight-point lead before the first TV timeout of the second half, the Crusaders closed the gap with a 10-2 run. From that point on, Maryland wouldn’t lead by more than six, though Valparaiso did get a fantastic celebration out of another game-tying three.
Alas, Valpo (coached by NCAA Tournament legend Bryce Drew) never could take the lead, and couldn't take advantage of disqualifying fifth fouls on Jake Layman and Damonte Dodd that decimated the Terps' front line for the final moments of play. And despite making 12 of 26 threes on the day, the Crusaders' last possession failed to get a clean look on what seemed like disjointed action.
Maryland’s Varun Ram -- a walk-on, 5’7 guard entering the game for the first time -- made a strip to seal the game. Valparaiso players argued for a call afterwards, to no avail.
Maryland moves on to the Round of 32, where it will meet West Virginia in one of the strangest Big 12-Big Ten matchups ever. And Valparaiso is still looking for its first NCAA win since Drew helped it to the Sweet Sixteen in 1998.
See More:
