It took three weeks, but Maryland finally played the way forward Bambale Osby envisioned.
“We ran the offense the way we wanted to,” he said. “We hit the offensive glass. We didn?t give them a chance to fiddle around and find a way to win the game.”
The senior made his first start in seven games during a 76-46 win over Delaware at Comcast Center this past Friday, when he was the catalyst for the Terrapins? flex-offense by scoring 14 points, including 10 in the first half when Maryland put the game away.
Osby will be counted on to deliver a repeat performance tonight at 8 when the Terrapins (7-6) host Savannah State (7-11). The Tigers enter Comcast Center reeling, as they?ve lost five of the past six games and are being outscored by an average of eight points per game. Maryland, however, is still searching for an offensive identity after losing to American and Ohio in College Park in recent weeks.
But Gary Williams, who removed his players? locker name plates, framed photographs and practice jerseys because of poor play, hopes his team has learned from its many mistakes. He was encouraged by its performance against Delaware, as the Terrapins dominated the Blue Hens from the opening tip.
“I felt we were missing some inside looks [in previous games],” Williams said. “We definitely wanted to look inside early in the game. I thought we had the advantage inside.”
Maryland outscored Delaware, 42-14, in the paint, marking the first time the Terrapins established a formidable inside game since a 69-61 victory over Illinois on Nov. 28.
“We definitely saw by watching film that the inside game was something we could take advantage of,” sophomore guard Eric Hayes said. “Once we started feeding the ball inside it opened it up for Greivis [Vasquez] and others to get open shots.”
Gist and Vasquez each scored 18 points against the Blue Hens, but Williams is more concerned with establishing an inside game before the Terrapins resume Atlantic Coast Conference play at Virginia Tech (8-5) on Jan. 12.
“We haven?t been tough for a couple of weeks,” Williams said. “We were tough [against Delaware]. We?ll see if we can continue to be tough.”
Terrapins (7-6) VS. SAVANNAH STATE(7-11)
» Tipoff: Tonight, 8
» Where: Comcast Center
» TV/Radio: 105.7 FM/1300 AM
