Maryland guard Melo Trimble submitted his name for evaluation in the 2016 NBA Draft, but withdrew in late May after going back and forth on the decision to go pro. In returning for his junior year, Trimble gave the Terps an All-American caliber player at point guard and gave himself an opportunity to improve his stock in the eyes of NBA scouts.
Trimble averaged 14.8 points and 4.9 assists last season, leading Maryland in both categories, but his 3-point shooting dropped from 41.2 percent as a freshman to just 31.1 percent as a sophomore. Thursday night's 84-76 win at Iowa was a perfect bit of game tape for anyone who has doubted Trimble's ability to knock down the long ball, with 5-for-9 shooting from deep and 20 points to lead all scorers.
It was a game that Iowa needed, as made evident by a late charge to erase a double-digit deficit and Fran McCaffrey's heated exchange with the referees following some no-calls in the final minute, but Trimble had the buckets late with two huge 3s in the final three minutes.
Trimble looked calm, cool and confident as the team's leader and the go-to player in clutch moments. Justin Jackson (12 points, nine rebounds) and Anthony Cowan (15 points, six assists) both had strong performances but Melo was the star. The win moves Maryland to 17-2 overall and first place in the Big Ten standings.