712 Digital Group - top

Maryland top N. Iowa 80-66 in USVI

Sports

November 25th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

St. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) — Evan Smotrycz led all scorers and tied a career-high 20 points to help lift Maryland 80-66 over Northern Iowa Sunday night to earn a berth in the finals of the Paradise Jam basketball tournament. Smotrycz grabbed 9 rebounds and scored three 3-pointers in leading Maryland (3-2) in a second-half surge over UNI (2-3). Maryland will face either Providence or LaSalle in Monday’s final.

Dez Wells scored 10 points in the first period, including a layup that gave Maryland a 33-30 halftime lead, and Smotrycz scored 17 points in the second period. Jake Layman scored 19 points, including a dunk on the game’s final play, Nick Faust scored 17 and Wells finished with 16.

Seth Tuttle led the Panthers with 19 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Deon Mitchell had 13 points and Nate Buss added 11. Maryland beat Marist 68-43 on Friday to advance against UNI.