The fourth-seeded Maryland Terrapins outlasted an upset bid from No. 13 seed Valparaiso, relying on a clutch defensive stop on the Crusaders’ last possession to seal the victory and advance.
With Valparaiso setting up for a final play, Maryland guard Varun Ram, who was inserted for the final 11 seconds strictly for defensive purposes, stripped Valpo guard Keith Carter as he went up for a potential game-tying three-pointer.
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Although the game remained close throughout, Maryland did not trail at any point after the 4:31 mark of the first half.
Terrapins star guard Melo Trimble finished with 14 points, a team-high 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals, while fellow guards Jared Nickens and Dez Wells each finished with 14 points apiece.
Wells scored Maryland’s final field goal off a rebound with under two minutes remaining.
Valparaiso forward Alec Peters led all scorers with 18 points, hitting 4-of-7 from three-point range.
Valparaiso shot 20-of-55 (36.4 percent) from the field — 12 of those field goals were three-point shots.
Maryland’s victory was the final one for the top eight seeds in the Midwest region, a feat that had not been accomplished since the 2012 NCAA tournament. The Terrapins will face fifth-seeded West Virginia on Sunday.
