Andrew Pace
On March 21, 2019, the Maryland Terrapins and the Belmont Bruins faced off in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship East Region. The game was a close contest, with Maryland narrowly escaping with a 79-77 victory over Belmont. The game saw strong performances from players on both teams, with Belmont's Dylan Windler and Kevin McClain, and Maryland's Jalen Smith and Darryl Morsell standing out. With only 2.5 seconds left on the clock, Morsell intercepted a pass from Belmont's Grayson Murphy, intended for Windler, which led to a last-second free throw and Windler's missed desperation shot, sealing the win for Maryland.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | March 21, 2019 |
| Competition | NCAA Tournament |
| Final Score | Maryland 79-77 Belmont |
| Top Scorers for Maryland | Jalen Smith (19 points), Darryl Morsell (18 points), Bruno Fernando (14 points), Eric Ayala (12 points) |
| Top Scorers for Belmont | Dylan Windler (35 points), Kevin McClain (19 points) |
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What You'll Learn
Maryland's Darryl Morsell's defensive play
In a closely contested game, Maryland managed to edge out Belmont by a score of 79-77. While Belmont's Dylan Windler was the game's top scorer with 35 points, Maryland's Darryl Morsell made a crucial defensive play in the dying seconds of the game to seal the win for his team. With 29 seconds left on the clock and the Bruins trailing by one point, Morsell intercepted a pass from Belmont's Grayson Murphy intended for Windler on a backdoor cut. This crucial defensive play prevented Belmont from taking the lead and potentially winning the game. Murphy then fouled Morsell, who made one of two free throws, extending Maryland's lead to two points. Windler missed a desperation shot at the buzzer, and Maryland escaped with a narrow victory.
Morsell's defensive prowess has been recognized throughout his college basketball career at Maryland. He was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the 2020-21 season, becoming the first player in program history to receive this honor. Morsell's standout skill is his defence, and he has consistently demonstrated his ability to limit opponents' scoring. His versatility allows him to cover various positions, including wings, ball-handlers, and forwards. In 26 games during the 2020-21 season, he recorded 25 steals and 16 blocks, showcasing his defensive impact.
Morsell's coaches and teammates have praised his defensive abilities, with head coach Mark Turgeon calling him the "heart and soul" of the Maryland team. He is often tasked with guarding the opposing team's best perimeter scorer, a testament to his defensive capabilities. His defensive play sets the tone for the entire Maryland team, and his tenacity and work ethic are highly respected.
Morsell's defensive impact extends beyond just his individual efforts. He has helped elevate the overall defensive performance of the Maryland team. During the 2020-21 season, Maryland ranked fifth in defensive efficiency in the Big Ten during conference play, allowing 65.8 points per game against league opponents, which ranked third in the conference. Morsell's defensive presence has been a key factor in Maryland's success, and his ability to alter the outcome of games through his defence is remarkable.
In addition to his defensive prowess, Morsell also contributes offensively. While his offensive statistics may not stand out, he has had impactful offensive performances. Against Illinois, he scored 19 points, showcasing his ability to contribute on both ends of the court. Darryl Morsell's defensive play against Belmont was a testament to his skill, tenacity, and ability to make crucial plays when it matters most. His defensive efforts helped secure a Maryland victory and further emphasized his value as a defensive stalwart.
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Belmont's Dylan Windler's 35 points
Dylan Windler was Belmont's standout player in their close 79-77 loss to Maryland in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Windler, who was one of only two seniors in a young Belmont team, scored a game-high 35 points, including 11 rebounds, 7 three-pointers, and 6 free throws.
Windler's performance against Maryland was a significant improvement on his previous game, in which he scored only six points. Commenting on his mindset, Windler said:
> "I wouldn't say I came into the game with any different approach. I'm always coming into the game with the same approach; trying to score and do whatever I can for my team. I got hot early and just continued to stay aggressive."
Windler's 35 points were instrumental in keeping Belmont in the game. With 29 seconds left, and Belmont trailing 78-77, a play was called for Windler to receive the ball on the baseline near the basket. However, a pass from Grayson Murphy was intercepted by Maryland's Darryl Morsell, who then made a free throw. Windler had a chance to win the game with a last-second shot, but it fell short.
Despite the loss, Belmont's coach Rick Byrd praised his team's performance, saying:
> "There is no question that we belonged in this game with a six seed from beginning to end. They get the win, we get the loss. That doesn't mean that our performance wasn't as good as we could ask for."
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Belmont's Nick Muszynski's foul trouble
The final score of the basketball game between Belmont and Maryland was 79-77 to Maryland.
Muszynski's foul trouble not only impacted the score but also affected Belmont's game plan and strategy. With Muszynski in foul trouble, Maryland was able to impose its will inside, causing problems for the Bruins. Despite this setback, Belmont did not give up. They regrouped after a couple of timeouts and regained some of the energy and efficiency they had in the first half.
Belmont's Dylan Windler, in particular, stepped up and helped the Bruins overcome the matchup issues they faced. He hit a crucial 3-pointer to put Belmont back in the lead at 51-50. Later in the game, Muszynski himself contributed a triple, cutting Maryland's lead to just 78-77 with 59 seconds remaining. Unfortunately for Belmont, Maryland's Darryl Morsell intercepted a pass intended for Windler in the final seconds, and Muszynski's foul trouble ultimately contributed to their narrow loss.
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Maryland's balanced attack
Maryland's 79-77 win over Belmont in the 2019 NCAA Tournament was a true team effort, with four players scoring in the double digits. Led by Jalen Smith's 19 points and 12 rebounds, the Terrapins also saw strong contributions from Darryl Morsell (18 points), Bruno Fernando (14 points, 13 rebounds), and Eric Ayala (12 points). This balanced attack proved crucial as Maryland staved off a strong challenge from Belmont, who were led by the outstanding Dylan Windler.
Maryland's ability to share the scoring load was evident throughout the game, with multiple players stepping up at different times. Smith, a dominant force in the paint, set the tone early, while Morsell and Ayala provided consistent scoring from the guard positions. Fernando, known for his defensive prowess, also contributed key baskets and rebounds. This diversity of options made Maryland difficult to guard, as Belmont couldn't focus solely on one or two players.
In contrast, Belmont's offense was more heavily reliant on Windler, who scored a game-high 35 points. While senior guard Kevin McClain added 19 points, no other Belmont player reached double figures. This meant that as the game progressed and Maryland's defense focused more intently on Windler, Belmont's scoring options became limited.
Maryland's performance highlighted the importance of a diverse and adaptable offense, where multiple players are capable of stepping up and contributing. This approach can not only create challenges for opposing defenses but also build resilience within the team, as they are not solely dependent on one or two star players. Maryland's victory over Belmont demonstrated the power of a united team effort, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
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Belmont's late comeback
The final score of the basketball game between Belmont and Maryland was 79-77 to Maryland. However, Belmont came very close to winning, and their late comeback attempt was particularly notable.
Belmont's Dylan Windler and Kevin McClain, the team's only two seniors, were the star players of the game. Windler scored a game-high 35 points, with 11-of-23 from the floor and 7-of-14 from long-range, and added 11 rebounds. McClain added 19 points, going 7-of-10 from the free-throw line. With just under a minute left in the game, a triple from Belmont's Nick Muszynski cut Maryland's lead to 78-77. After a missed floater from Maryland's Anthony Cowan Jr., Belmont had a chance to take the lead. However, the ball ended up in the hands of Maryland's Darryl Morsell after Windler slipped on a cut. With 2.5 seconds left, Morsell was fouled by Belmont's Grayson Murphy and made 1-of-2 free throws. Windler then missed a last-second shot from beyond half-court, and Maryland held on for the win.
Belmont's coach, Rick Byrd, praised his team's performance, saying, "There is no question that we belonged in this game with a six seed from beginning to end. They get the win, we get the loss. That doesn't mean that our performance wasn't as good as we could ask for." Despite the loss, Belmont's late comeback attempt showcased their resilience and determination, and they can take pride in their almost-upset of a strong Maryland team.
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Frequently asked questions
The final score was 79-77 to Maryland.
Dylan Windler scored a game-high 35 points for Belmont. Jalen Smith led Maryland with 19 points.
With 59 seconds remaining, Maryland led 78-77.
After a missed floater from Anthony Cowan Jr., the ball landed in Darryl Morsell's hands after Dylan Windler slipped. Morsell was fouled and made one of two free throws. Windler's last-second heave then fell short.
Belmont had a record of 26-5 or 27-6, while Maryland was 23-10 going into the game.
