Takeaways from Maryland men’s basketball’s 90-81 exhibition win over West Virginia

Three takeaways from Maryland men's basketball's 90-81 exhibition win over West Virginia:

1. Three-point shooting has been inconsistent for the Terps this preseason. Head coach Buzz Williams brought in Mike McNair Jr., a Boston University transfer, as a three-point specialist. While McNair shot 44% from beyond the arc, it took 17 minutes for anyone else to make a three-pointer. However, Mills made four three-pointers, including two in overtime.

Maryland finished the game 10-of-20 from behind the arc, with McNair contributing three of the field goals. The Mountaineers made eight of their first 11 three-pointers, which helped them take an early lead.

2. Pharrel Payne continues to be a critical offensive player for Maryland. Payne, who averaged 17.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in the 2025-26 season before getting injured, played 37 of 45 minutes in this game. He finished with 26 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. The big man's offensive boards kept Maryland in the game, and his emphatic dunk off an alley-oop from Tomislav Buljan sealed the victory in overtime.

Payne's ability to make his teammates better and occasionally bail them out is a crucial aspect of Maryland's offense that needs to be refined.

3. Maryland's resilience in the face of adversity is evident. Despite falling behind by 19 points in the first half, the Terps staged a remarkable comeback after the break. They went back and forth with West Virginia until the overtime period, where Payne hit a crucial three-pointer to secure the win. Payne's six turnovers and 5-of-11 shooting from the free-throw line are areas that need improvement, but his performance in this game indicates that Maryland has the determination to turn around games and could be vital for their season aspirations.