A Dez Wells scoring spree to start the second half ended Wake Forest’s hopes of pulling the 7-10 upset and finished their season, while Maryland will advance to the ACC quarterfinals after the 75-62 win.
Maryland vs. Wake Forest final score: 2nd-half run gives Terrapins win
Dez Wells had 21, including some dunks and threes in a run after the start of the second half, as the Terrapins beat the Demon Deacons to move on to face Duke.
Wells finished with 21 points on just 10 shots, drilling both threes he attempted and putting down a pair of slam dunks as part of a spurt that pulled Maryland back from a halftime deficit. The Terps entered the half down five, but cut that lead quickly and soon led by double digits.
Wake Forest's C.J. Harris seemed like he'd be a problem for Maryland at the start of what turned out to be his final collegiate game: The senior guard scored Wake Forest's first five points, eventually ending the period with 13. Meanwhile, the only bucket for 7-footer Alex Len in the half was a three-pointer, as he only took two shots despite not facing anyone over 6'9. The Demon Deacons would lead by as much as seven in the first period, eventually heading into halftime up 35-30.
Wells did not take kindly to his team trailing. The Xavier transfer scored 12 of Maryland’s first 16 points, including two dunks and two three-pointers, and a rebound and bucket by Len gave Maryland their first lead in a while. Later, a Len dunk and a three by Pe’Shon Howard — his first of the game — sparked a 13-4 run that would start to put the game out of reach. The Demon Deacons responded by going over eight minutes without a field goal. Maryland would lead by as much as 15 before the end of the game.
Maryland advances to play second-seeded Duke in the next round, music to the ears of Terps fans who remember an 83-81 upset over the team then ranked No. 2 — in the country, not the conference — in College Park in February. Now, however, the Blue Devils have Ryan Kelly back.
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