Jonathan Graham doesn’t try to emulate his father. Not on the basketball court, at least.

Though the Terrapins men’s basketball forward laces up his shoes before each game to play for the same program Ernest Graham suited up for more than 30 years ago, Graham never adopted his father’s style of play.

Ernest Graham was a slashing perimeter scorer, and he still holds the Terps’ single-game scoring record after pouring in 44 points against N.C. State in December 1978. Jonathan Graham, meanwhile, is a 6-foot-8 big man who prides himself on providing post defense, solid rebounding and consistent energy.

In Sunday’s 77-75 loss to George Washington in the BB&T Classic, the younger Graham finally began carving his own imprint on his father’s former team. Graham’s play in a season-high 15 minutes helped the Terps withstand a poor shooting performance in the first half and remain in position to erase a 14-point deficit in the second half.

Graham, who hadn’t played more than seven minutes in a game prior to Sunday, finished with five points and five rebounds and helped slow down the Colonials’ offense by providing a presence in the paint.

“I thought Jonathan Graham gave us great minutes,” coach Mark Turgeon said. “He played hard, and we raised our intensity up a level because of him.”

Graham hasn’t had much of an opportunity to impact games so far. He transferred to the Terps prior to this season after spending two seasons playing for Penn State, and he struggled to find a niche in Turgeon’s rotation during the opening month of the season.

Sunday at Verizon Center, though, the third-year coach turned to Graham after his team got off to another slow start. The junior sociology major delivered productive minutes, particularly on the defensive end, where starting big men Evan Smotrycz and Shaquille Cleare were struggling.

“I wasn’t sure how many minutes I was going to play and I wasn’t worrying about it,” Graham said. “I was just preparing myself for the game and when I get in there, I’d just play as hard as I can.”

Turgeon and forward Jake Layman credited Graham with providing a jolt to the Terps, who trailed by 12 at halftime. With the Terps searching for momentum early in the second half, the defense-minded Graham even threw down a dunk over Colonials forward Isaiah Armwood and got fouled on the play.

Graham screamed after his slam, walked to the free throw line and sank the shot to trim the Colonials lead to 10 points with 16:50 to play in the second half.

“He gave us great minutes, rebounding the ball, his intensity,” Layman said. “The and-one over Armwood was great. It got us going even more.”

While Graham’s powerful finish over the lanky Armwood brought the Terps faithful in Verizon Center to their feet, the Baltimore native doesn’t pride himself on highlight reel plays. He prefers to view himself as steady on both sides of the floor.

Graham was just that on Sunday, recording three blocks and hitting all three of his free throws. Still, Graham and his coach thought his tireless defense provided an even bigger boost.

“I was taught that effort is very important in anything that you do,” Graham said. “Not just in basketball, but in life.”

That’s where the Terps’ big man does try to mimic his father. He may not routinely score from long range or make plays off the dribble like Ernest Graham did in the late ’70s and early ’80s, but Graham believes he can work as hard as his father did.

Graham said his parents instilled in him positive energy and work ethic, and he points to those traits as key to his productive play against the Colonials. He turned in season highs in points, rebounds and blocks while keeping his team in the game despite its listless start.

And Graham didn’t have to post 44 points to contribute; he just spent his time grinding in the post.

“He had the offensive arsenal,” Graham said of to his father. “Me? I’m consistent with one area and I stick to it and I do the best I can at my one position.”