On Saturday evening, the No. 24 ranked Maryland Terrapins and Iowa Hawkeyes squared off in College Park, Maryland for a noteworthy Big Ten matchup.

The opening minutes of the first period quickly revealed each team’s undeniable determination, as neither side managed to expand the deficit.

However, as halftime approached, Iowa began to pull away. Despite the Hawkeyes holding an 11-point lead with 1:26 remaining, the Terrapins managed to pick up a few baskets, entering the half down 47-40.

In the second half, Iowa refused to let up on its lead.

The Hawkeyes would go onto complete upset, defeating the Terrapins 83-69.

Let’s see what we learned from the game.

What We Learned

1. Iowa’s Perimeter Play Is Key.

In Iowa’s unlikely win over Maryland, perimeter shooting was, undoubtedly, a key contributor to the team’s success. One player who had his fair share of success from beyond the arc against Maryland, was freshman guard Jordan Bohannon.

Bohannon recorded 24 points, five assists and three rebounds, all while shooting 8-of-10 from three. His remarkable production plagued the Terrapins, as they were unable to manufacture a response to his seemingly picture-perfect performance.

Iowa certainly has its fair share of scorers, with senior guard Peter Jok, freshman forward Tyler Cook and Bohannon. While Jok leads the Big Ten in scoring with 21 points per game, Cook has established his importance down low, averaging 11.8 points per game in his freshman campaign.

With Jok and Cook by his side, Bohannon’s outside shooting will provide opponents with yet another serious threat that must be addressed.

2. Iowa Was Able To Capitalize.

In many games where an unranked team is looking to upset a top-25 opponent, its common to see the team capture the lead, but eventually give it away. Fortunately for Iowa, the Hawkeyes capitalized on their momentum during the entirety of the game. While Maryland had just three more turnovers than Iowa, Iowa’s ability to convert on those added opportunities, is what helped separate the two teams.

The Hawkeyes turned the Terrapin’s 14 turnovers into 22 points. In comparison, Maryland added just 11 points off of Iowa’s 11 turnovers. The duo of Bohannon, Cook and Jok ensured the production on those extra chances.

Behind Bohannon’s incredible showing, stood Cook’s 21-point, 10-rebound double-double and Jok’s 11 points, four rebounds and three assists. These three players will be looked upon to rise to the occasion once again against Wisconsin on Thursday.

3. Where Was Melo Trimble?

Although it was clear that Iowa’s notable play against Maryland would likely go unmatched, junior guard Melo Trimble failed to make a significant impact for his team. The 6-foot-3 standout contributed just 10 points, five rebounds and four assists in the loss. Trimble’s 10 points were the result of his 1-of-9 shooting three and 4-of-13 shooting from the field.

Maryland is currently in third place in the Big Ten and has aspirations of a deep postseason run in the NCAA tournament. In order for the Terrapins to do so, Trimble must lead the way.

As you saw in the loss to Iowa, freshman guard Anthony Cowan and freshman forward Kevin Huerter are two capable contributors that surround Trimble. However, this is Trimble’s team and he will be the one looked upon to lead Maryland to postseason success.

Overall

Iowa will continue to stay at the middle of the conference and doesn’t pose as a huge threat for Wisconsin in its next game. Maryland will likely pick up two wins against Rutgers and Michigan State in its last two regular season games, should they stay focused. While each team’s season has unfolded differently, both Maryland and Iowa contain undeniable potential.