COLLEGE PARK, Md. – LaVall Jordan’s first defeat as Butler basketball coach was the antithesis of the way he played as a Bulldog.
Maryland exploited Butler’s porous defense and clunky offense, rolling to a 79-65 victory Wednesday night in the Gavitt Games.
Anthony Cowan Jr. scored a career-high 25 points for the Terrapins, who shot 57 percent.
Sean McDermott led Butler with a career-high 17 points, shooting 3-of-7 on 3-pointers. Kamar Baldwin scored 15 and Kelan Martin 12.
The Bulldogs trailed by as many as 13 points before closing within 61-56 on Aaron Thompson’s one-and-one with 6:45 left.