Trimble rewarded his coach's faith with one of the most memorable shots of his career, a 25 footer from the top of the key with 1.2 seconds left and Wisconsin guard Zak Showalter's hand in his face. The game-winning 3-pointer gave third-ranked Maryland a 63-60 road victory and ensured a late comeback by the Badgers would go to waste.
If Trimble wasn't among the favorites in the national player of the year race entering Saturday's game, his performance at the Kohl Center ought to move him up a few notches. The heralded sophomore showed he belongs in the same conversation as Oklahoma's Buddy Hield, Providence's Kris Dunn and Michigan State's Denzel Valentine by scoring 21 points, dishing out five assists and making big play after big play with the game on the line.
It was Trimble who ripped off 10 straight points to give Maryland an eight-point lead after Wisconsin had pulled ahead midway through the second half. It was Trimble who found freshman Diamond Stone for a pair of key second-half dunks. And it was Trimble who sank the game winner just when it seemed his team was in jeopardy of a stunning late collapse.
Maryland still led by eight with less than 90 seconds to play before a Showalter layup and a missed free throw by Robert Carter gave Wisconsin new life. Then Showalter buried a 3-pointer, Rasheed Sulaimon clanked another front end of a 1-and-1, Bronson Koenig knocked down another big shot from behind the arc, and suddenly the score was tied.
The exciting finish upstaged the storyline that had drawn the most attention before and during the game: Stone's return to his home state. The 6-foot-11 McDonald's All-American and four-time state champion endured all sorts of vitriol from Wisconsin fans irate that he chose Maryland over the Badgers last spring.
Wisconsin students booed Stone whenever he touched the ball and roared loudly when he went to the bench with two fouls late in the first half. They also directed a couple of low-class chants at Stone that no doubt made him feel even more comfortable about his decision not to attend Wisconsin.
Stone overcame a slow start to finish with 11 points, four rebounds and two steals. He struggled defensively in the low post against Wisconsin's Ethan Happ, but shined with his back to the basket on offense or finishing at the rim.
About the only way the finish could have been sweeter for Stone is if he had been the one to score the game winner rather than Trimble.
Nonetheless, he'll undoubtedly head back home with a smile on his face knowing Maryland is 15-1 and the favorite to win the Big Ten title and Wisconsin is 9-8 and in jeopardy of missing the NCAA tournament for the first time in 18 years.
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