Guard Dez Wells kills time off the clock during Maryland’s 76-73 win over Penn State at the Jordan Center on Feb. 14, 2015.
Terrapins men’s basketball guard Dez Wells will play his final game in College Park on Saturday against Michigan. Beat writer Aaron Kasinitz chronicled Wells’ three-year Terps career here, while columnist Daniel Popper looked at the senior’s successful journey from a troubled past here. Below, the duo breaks down the top 10 moments from Wells’ time with the program as the guard gets ready to say goodbye to a fan base that accepted him with open arms.
10. Breakout game against Northwestern (2012-13)
Wells hadn’t quite had a dominant game with the Terps before a Big Ten-ACC Challenge contest at Northwestern in December 2012. But against the Wildcats, Wells made 9 of 11 shots from the field and scored 23 points, then a career high, in a 77-57 victory that catapulted the guard into the national spotlight.
9. Dunk in overtime against Virginia (2012-13)
In overtime of a game against Virginia his sophomore season, Wells had a block on one end before throwing down a thunderous dunk in transition over Cavaliers forward Justin Anderson, a former Terps commit. Virginia won the game, 61-58, but it would have been hard not to include this slam on the list.
8. Second-half outburst in loss to Duke (2013-14)
Though the Terps suffered a heartbreaking loss at No. 8 Duke on Feb. 15, 2014 in their final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium as an ACC team, Wells’ 17-point second half lands on this list. He willed the Terps back into the game and drained a late contested three to give the team a lead in the closing minutes. We do, however, apologize to fans for inducing memories of forward Charles Mitchell’s potential game-winning shot trickling off the rim to seal the loss.
(Seriously, do not watch the full highlight.)
7. Career-high 33 points against Boston College (2013-14)
In the ACC opener at Boston College during his junior season, Wells took charge late. He routinely sliced into the lane to score a career-high 33 points on 12 of 18 shooting in a 88-80 victory.
6. Ferocious slam in home win over Penn State (2014-15)
“Once I saw I got the ball with a full head of steam, I knew it was going to end up bad for him,” Wells said.
5. Game-winning three against Miami (2013-14)
Wells scored all 21 of his points in the second half and didn’t miss a shot — he was 7 of 7 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line — in a 74-71 win over Miami last season. Most fans, though, only remember one shot from that game.
4. Game-tying three at Michigan State (2014-15)
In the Terps’ Big Ten opener, Wells played hero once again. He sunk a tough three in the closing second of regulation to tie the score and later had a steal and bucket in the second overtime that helped the team claim one of its most significant victories in a resurgent season. It was also his second back from a broken wrist.
3. 30 points against No. 2 Duke in ACC tournament win (2012-13)
If Wells hadn’t made enough of a name for himself during the regular season his sophomore year, he took care of that issue in the ACC tournament. The athletic wing exploded for 30 points to help the Terps knock off the Blue Devils in the quarterfinals.
2. 26 points in win over No. 5 Wisconsin (2014-15)
In arguably the biggest Terps’ win on this campus in close to a decade, Wells had one of his best career games.
This monster dunk on a baseline drive was part of a 26-point performance that cemented the Terps’ status as a Big Ten and national contender.
1. Game-winning putback layup against Northwestern
The Terps were moments away from a crushing loss during a bad stretch of an important season before Wells once again saved the day. His putback basket off Melo Trimble’s miss with 1.4 seconds left gave the Terps a 68-67 win and tops the senior’s collection of great moments.
