Maryland falls to Wisconsin in Maui Invitational

LAHAINA, HAWAII -- Wisconsin disrupted Maryland's rhythm with an inelegant style that has become the staple of its program during Coach Bo Ryan's nine-year tenure: One pass, two pass, three pass, four. The Badgers remained unconcerned with Maryland's desire to push the pace during the third-place game of the Maui Invitational and prevailed due in large part to their unruffled approach.

The Terrapins dropped a 78-69 decision to Wisconsin on Wednesday, their second loss in as many days. No. 21 Maryland (4-2) has not made players available to the media after either of its defeats.

"They play their way; we try to play our way," Maryland Coach Gary Williams said. "That's his style; that's our style."

Poor perimeter defense in the first half by the Terrapins contributed significantly to the early lead Wisconsin established, as did Maryland's recurring themes of foul trouble and shaky free throw shooting.

The Terrapins placed an emphasis at the outset on limited entry passes to Wisconsin forward Jon Leuer, and while Maryland initially was successful in doing so, the Badgers responded by firing away from three-point range.

"We thought after [Tuesday] night watching them that if we doubled down [on Leuer] and they kicked it, since they didn't make threes last night that that would work," Williams said. "But they made threes tonight when they kicked it out."

Wisconsin's shooters connected on 7 of 12 three-point attempts before intermission. Maryland tried man-to-man and zone defenses, but the Badgers proved immune to either approach. Wisconsin had shot just 20.8 percent from beyond the arc Tuesday in a loss to Gonzaga.

Ryan's style altered the way Williams designated playing time, as well. Williams said that after watching tape of Wisconsin's loss to Gonzaga, he felt that he could play his starters for more minutes.

"The pace of the game wasn't that quick because of the way Wisconsin plays," Williams said. "I went into the game kind of feeling like just trying to find out who's playing well and get it going."

The Terrapins made their first four shots and jumped to a 9-3 lead. But as the half progressed, Maryland could not sustain its momentum. Sophomore guard Sean Mosley, who finished with 10 points, got into early foul trouble, as did freshman forward Jordan Williams.

And while the Terrapins were able to get to the free throw line, they struggled for the second straight game. Maryland shot 58.8 percent (10 of 17) from the line.

Try as they might, the Terrapins could not bait Wisconsin's trudging lineup into an up-tempo affair. Whenever a transition opportunity presented itself, the Badgers nearly always held up and initiated a half-court set. Whereas Maryland prefers to wear down its opponents through constant movement, Wisconsin achieved the same end through the polar opposite approach: patience.

Wisconsin guards Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon were the primary beneficiaries of the Badgers' game plan. The pair combined to make 7 of 13 attempts from three-point range and total 34 points.

When Wisconsin did misfire, its post players frequently afforded them second-chance opportunities. Leuer and Keaton Nankivil are not as physical or athletic as the big men Maryland faced Tuesday in a loss against Cincinnati, but their length provided an obstacle the Terrapins' front court struggled to overcome, particularly as the game progressed.

Maryland compensated, as is its custom, with stifling defensive pressure. The Terrapins forced a typically disciplined Wisconsin squad into 15 turnovers. During a stretch early in the second half in which the Badgers went with a small lineup, Maryland used its defense to close the deficit to six.

When Wisconsin put Leuer and Nankivil back in the game, Maryland's pressure enabled the Terrapins to pull even closer. Senior forward Landon Milbourne sank a jumper with just more than 10 minutes remaining to cut the Badgers' lead to three. It was as close as Maryland would come.

Milbourne tallied 15 points and senior guard Greivis Vasquez finished with a team-high 18 points. Fellow senior guard Eric Hayes shot 6 of 10 from the field and recorded 13 points. But Maryland's efforts could not overcome a Wisconsin squad that took its time and made shots when it had to.

Wisconsin "didn't make the same shots [Tuesday] night," Williams said. "That's the way it goes sometimes."