COLLEGE PARK — After scoring 26 points in Michigan State's 68-66 double-overtime loss to Maryland in East Lansing, Mich., on Dec, 30, Spartans guard Travis Trice became the primary focus for the Terps in their defensive preparation going into Saturday's game at Xfinity Center.
Maryland guards Melo Trimble and Richaud Pack did their job in a 75-59 win in what was the team's first Big Ten rematch. What Trice had done in Maryland's first-ever Big Ten game served as motivation for Trimble.
"I've been watching a lot of film on him, and he reminds me of [Golden State Warriors point guard] Steph Curry," Trimble said after outscoring Trice, 24-5, in Saturday's blowout. "But I knew to take it upon myself if we wanted to win on defense."
With the 6-foot-3 freshman Trimble and the 6-3 senior Pack limiting Trice's touches, particularly behind the 3-point line, the 6-foot, 170-pound junior didn't even get off a shot until late in the first half, missed his first five attempts and finished just 2 of 8 from the field.
Trice also had only one assist to four turnovers, after having a 21-2 assist-to-turnover ratio his previous three games -- all victories for Michigan State.
"We just guarded ball screens better," Trimble said. "The first time we played them, he kind of got off on us, a lack of ball screen defense. Today, I've seen him play, so I just wanted to take it upon myself to play good 'D.'"
Trimble -- and the other Maryland guards --likely will have even more of a challenge Thursday, when the 13th-ranked Terps play No. 23 Indiana in Bloomington, Ind. The Hoosiers feature junior point guard Yogi Ferrell, a preseason all-conference selection, and James Blackmon Jr., one of the nation's top high school guards a year ago.
Ferrell had nine assists -- one shy of his career-high -- in an 80-74 win over Illinois on Sunday. Blackmon has averaged more than 17 points in his last three games, including 21 against the Fighting Illini.
Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said Monday on the Big Ten coaches' teleconference that "great guard play" has contributed significantly to the Hoosiers starting 14-4 overall and 4-1 in the league despite being picked before the season in the bottom half right ahead of the Terps.
"Whenever you have a Yogi Ferrell and a Blackmon, you've got so many good guards," Turgeon said. "The [Troy] Williams kid is playing at a high level, and they're playing with confidence and they can really space the floor … If you have great guards, you have a chance."
Baltimore Sun reporter Don Markus contributed to this article.