Nov. 22, 1999

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Juan Dixon scored nine of his 21 points in a game-opening 23-1 run that powered No. 24 Maryland past overmatched Fairleigh Dickinson 104-45 on Monday night.

Freshman Drew Nicholas had 27 points on 9-for-11 shooting for the Terps (3-0), who entered the AP poll for the first time Monday after spending all last season ranked seventh or higher. Maryland faces No. 11 Kentucky on Wednesday night in the semifinals of the Preseason NIT.

Sophomore Wim Van de Keere scored a career-high 16 points for the Knights (0-1), who had seven field goals and 17 turnovers in the first half.

It was the 67th consecutive non-conference home victory for the Terrapins, the longest current streak in the nation. Maryland, which starts five underclassmen, has won nine straight regular-season games.

It was the eighth-most lopsided victory in school history.

The Terrapins scored the game's first five points before Keith Martin made a free throw for the Knights. Maryland then reeled off 18 straight points for a 23-1 lead before FDU's Khalid Coursey scored on a drive with 12:10 left in the half.

Fairleigh Dickinson coach Tom Green couldn't possibly have envisioned his team starting the season in worse fashion: 0-for-10 from the floor with nine turnovers.

In contrast, things were going so well for the Terrapins that Dixon scored from 12 feet while attempting to set up Lonny Baxter with an alley-oop pass. That made it 28-5, and after FDU closed to 34-14, Nicholas had a pair of 3-pointers in a 14-0 run that made it 48-14.

The Terrapins led 59-24 at halftime and 91-41 with seven minutes remaining.

Maryland forward Terence Morris, a preseason All-America selection, missed seven of 10 shots and finished with seven points.