Maryland Terrapins Looking to Get First Road Win against the Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Maryland Terrapins face their first road test against the Oklahoma State Cowboys today. The Terps have been nearly perfect at home with a 10-1 record despite facing adversity with injuries. Those injuries included: Evan Smotrycz (fractured fifth metatarsal bone in left foot), who is now healthy, and Dez Wells (broken right wrist).
A previous article mentioned that he injured his foot, but his feet are fine. The good news for the Terps and Wells is that in an update given by CSN Baltimore’s Daniel Martin on December 9, Wells had his cast removed a day prior and his wrist was put in a hard splint.
Wells can make his return to the court prior to the Michigan State game on December 30. He is still the leading scorer on the team (16.2 points per game) despite being out, and freshman guard Melo Trimble is behind him with 15.8 points per game.
Today, the Terps are playing a team in the Oklahoma State Cowboys who are 9-1 overall and 6-0 at home. They want to keep their home record unblemished and move to seven wins. Some good things that the Cowboys having going for them: They are ninth in the nation in steals with 10 per game, and they have guys who average close to 20 points per game.
Senior guard Le’Bryan Nash (17.7 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game) and junior guard Phil Forte III (17.1 points per game) are guys that the Terps need to watch out for.
In addition to those two, the Terps need to pay attention to senior center Michael Cobbins who had 12 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in Oklahoma State’s previous game against Middle Tennessee. It’s important that the Terps be cognizant of his defensive presence. The Cowboys had 34 rebounds in that game and that physicality is something that the Terps will have to combat.
The Terps have a three game winning streak on the line, and here is an interesting stat regarding that win streak: In each of the last three games played, they have had more than two players hit double figures in points. Junior forward Jake Layman and Freshman guard Melo Trimble have been consistent double figure guys in that three game span.
The Terps have the offensive fire power to win this game but it will be interesting to see how they defend Oklahoma State. The game will be shown on ESPNU at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, December 21.